Tonight I took A to Disney on Ice. Because it was going to be a night event, I knew that she needed to nap during the day to survive this wonderful night that I had planned for her. So on the way home from picking her up at my friend's house, I told her that we were going to go home, take a nap, wait for Eemo (my sister), go out for dinner and then go to Disney on Ice. Of course A did not want to nap, so I told her if she didn't nap, she would not be able to go to Disney on Ice. She in her 5 (now almost 6) year old attitude told me that she didn't want to go. I'm not one to buy into that, so I told her that was fine and that I would find a sitter for her and Eemo and I would go on our own. That was not what she was expecting me to say...
I tell this story because as I sat in the show (she ended up taking a nap and apologizing for her attitude), I saw her face full of excitement, joy and amazement, which I knew was going to happen. I thought about how it would have been if she didn't nap, she would have missed out on this opportunity which I knew was going to be awesome for her. So then as I thought about that, I thought of how many wonderful opportunities I missed at having a magical experience from God because I didn't want to "nap". How many times has God challenged me to do something that I didn't want to do, but He knew it was going to be good for me in the long run? How many magical moments did I miss because I had this attitude? Are we missing it?
This week I have been talking about the story of the Prodigal Son and his older brother with a friend. My friend specifically was lamenting the older brothers of this world... The older brother who stayed at home and didn't mess up and did everything right... who when his brother was forgiven and brought back into the family as if nothing happened got angry... I'm not saying that we have to all go out and mess up like the Prodigal Son to really get it, but the older brother really missed the point. And whether it's attitudes of not wanting to take the "nap" that is going to be good for you or feeling unfairness because the brother was forgiven... Do these attitudes play in to us missing the magical things in life that God has for us?
This is a thought I had before going to bed tonight... Let's all be people of grace, righteousness and love!!!
