Today is Monday, January 4th, 2010; Karen's Korner #1731
Last week our daughter Jamie and grandchildren Luke, Molly, and Noah came to stay at our house overnight to take advantage of Luke's Christmas break from school.
Among other things, we went to our local museum for a short visit to see some of the collections there. The trip is a favorite for our grandchildren, especially to five-year-old Luke. As we were leaving, our museum host gave all three kids their own candy cane, leftover from the holidays.
Walking out on to the porch outside of the museum, Luke discovered his candy cane was broken. His displeasure was registered by throwing it onto the wooden structure and informing the rest of us that he was not going to eat a broken one when 'Noah and Molly had ones that weren't broken'. He needed another one!! There were demands and tears.
His mom kept getting kids into the vehicle as Luke's tyriad continued. Through his tears, he recalled often his displeasure and said the broken candy was making 'this his worst Christmas ever'.
Jamie reminded that his actions weren't anything she planned to reward.
Was Luke's behavior unwarranted? immature? Probably.
What the fuss about?
But are we so different from Luke? I'd like to think we aren't. It might not be a broken candy cane!
We looked at the first few sentences of the Lord's Prayer in Sunday School class yesterday which included:
".....May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."
We do pretty well when 'His will' matches 'our will'.
But what about the times when we get something other than what we want? Thought we needed? Couldn't live without?
Our friend or family member isn't healed of some disease? We have been asking for just the right job; no answer that we can see on the horizon? A family member, co-worker, friend, neighbor isn't behaving like we know they should or could?
What do we do? Quit praying? Quit believing? Drop out of church attendance and fellowship with over believers?
Do we, like Luke, remind God or anyone who will listen that this is the 'worst thing that has happened to us ever'? When all God wants is for us to believe that His will is best and for us to trust Him.
After all, He sees the whole picture better than we do.
Father in Heaven, thank Your that You are Our Father; that You love us unconditionally; and only want the very best for us. Forgive us for our tantrums and childish outbursts when we want our will more than we want Yours. We want You to be our Father; help us to be the kind of children which You want us to be: sitting on Your lap, trusting You to take care of our every need; knowing that You have our very best interests and care in mind. Sometimes we forget. We need Luke and Your words in the Lord's Prayer to remind us. Thank You for loving us so very, very much. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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