3-11-11:Earlier this week, I waited too late to start homework with my kindergartener, Samuel. About the time I was calling him to come to me and begin working, he started crying about getting hurt while playing with his older sibling. Now I don’t think he was truly injured, mostly his feelings were hurt and he was tired. So I quickly tried to improvise to help him adjust and settle in to a homework mode.
“Samuel, I have some magic beans that help boo-boos.” I grabbed a couple jelly beans from the basket and presented them to him. In his emotional adjustment, he was crying and laughing at the same time. He quickly informed me: “Those aren’t magic.” “Oh, yes they are,” I replied. Of course he knows Mommy is joking, but he decided to play along. The tears stopped, the jelly beans were almost swallowed, and Samuel pauses for just a moment.
I glanced over at him and he begins smiling, and then chuckling to himself.
“Mommy, I don’t think those magic beans worked. I need some more.”
Sly little guy.
Even more sly mama; little guy had the homework completed fairly quickly.
Later that evening, I thought about his issue again. And the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart:
“Samuel is a lot like you. And many Christians.” What?
“You are throwing a tantrum. Maybe because you are injured. Perhaps even unfairly. So you come crying to me…meanwhile, I’m about to give you an important work to do. Your service to me. But you are so wrapped up in your ‘injury’ that you don’t respond as you should. I offer my promises in the Word to you. And you are hesitate.
But finally, you read them. The tears begin to fade. The smile starts to blossom across your face and you realize: Your Word is true. All Your promises are true.
My God is faithful and keeps His promises.
And you ask for some more promises.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119: 28
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:37
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114
Because the promises you started with were just enough of a taste of My Word to get your taste buds declaring the desire for more. “
