I am surrounded by immense need. Not even including myself – and boy am I a dousy – but my kids. Needy. Little balls of neediness.
As I am filling the request for cheese toast, I’m also being asked to ‘find something in her ear’ (thanks, Papa John, for finding quarters one day so that now that each day holds a new promise for more riches), and also to play with her. Really? I’m still trying to get the first thing you asked for.
Geez Louise. It can be exhausting.
And frustrating. I wish I could say that I’m not frustrated – that I can stay in an objective emotional state and recognize that they are just kids, little dependents that I’m called to take care of. But I don’t stay in that cozy little viewpoint of understanding and realistic expectations. I somehow seem to find myself most days – okay, all days – on the sidelines of realistic expectations – finding myself wanting them to see that mommy is trying to do the best she can, that she is getting my cheese toast so I’m going to wait patiently while she does that and then I’m going to be considerate enough to let her finish her coffee before I ask for anything else.
HA! I know, right?
Well, it occurred to me today, as I’m being bombarded with requests and the general air of dependency, that my God is SO unlike me. Thankfully, He is not overwhelmed or put off by my kids’ neediness, or mine. He is not frustrated when I come to Him, asking for peace and provision, and while He’s at it, I’d love some extra rest today with a side of resolution in this relational issue over here. And while You’re up, taking care of those things, could you also love me and affirm me of Your love today in a special way. Thanks.
Yep – He is not frustrated by my extreme desperation one bit. In fact, He delights in the fact that I bring it to Him. I don’t always – sometimes I get caught up in the delusion that I can manage myself (again, another big HA) or the deception that He doesn’t want to hear from me again today, so I need to figure out another solution (LIE).
He is not overwhelmed or put off by me. Whether I’m being demanding and less than grateful (which He addresses in me) or I’m asking continuously because I’m struggling in doubt and the silence of waiting. He does not have unrealistic expectations of me. He knows me. He created me. He is intimately acquainted with all my ways. Yours, too. Check it out.
As my daughter comes back up to me, asking for another piece of cheese toast, she’s grinning and excited and telling me how yummy the first piece was. And I think that God wants that from me, too. For me to know that He’s not put off by my requests, and that He loves it when I come back to Him, asking for more and exclaiming how much I enjoyed what He has already given.
Thanks for letting me share!
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6-7
General Air of Dependency
JennyI am surrounded by immense need. Not even including myself – and boy am I a dousy – but my kids. Needy. Little balls of neediness.
As I am filling the request for cheese toast, I’m also being asked to ‘find something in her ear’ (thanks, Papa John, for finding quarters one day so that now that each day holds a new promise for more riches), and also to play with her. Really? I’m still trying to get the first thing you asked for.
Geez Louise. It can be exhausting.
And frustrating. I wish I could say that I’m not frustrated – that I can stay in an objective emotional state and recognize that they are just kids, little dependents that I’m called to take care of. But I don’t stay in that cozy little viewpoint of understanding and realistic expectations. I somehow seem to find myself most days – okay, all days – on the sidelines of realistic expectations – finding myself wanting them to see that mommy is trying to do the best she can, that she is getting my cheese toast so I’m going to wait patiently while she does that and then I’m going to be considerate enough to let her finish her coffee before I ask for anything else.
HA! I know, right?
Well, it occurred to me today, as I’m being bombarded with requests and the general air of dependency, that my God is SO unlike me. Thankfully, He is not overwhelmed or put off by my kids’ neediness, or mine. He is not frustrated when I come to Him, asking for peace and provision, and while He’s at it, I’d love some extra rest today with a side of resolution in this relational issue over here. And while You’re up, taking care of those things, could you also love me and affirm me of Your love today in a special way. Thanks.
Yep – He is not frustrated by my extreme desperation one bit. In fact, He delights in the fact that I bring it to Him. I don’t always – sometimes I get caught up in the delusion that I can manage myself (again, another big HA) or the deception that He doesn’t want to hear from me again today, so I need to figure out another solution (LIE).
He is not overwhelmed or put off by me. Whether I’m being demanding and less than grateful (which He addresses in me) or I’m asking continuously because I’m struggling in doubt and the silence of waiting. He does not have unrealistic expectations of me. He knows me. He created me. He is intimately acquainted with all my ways. Yours, too. Check it out.
As my daughter comes back up to me, asking for another piece of cheese toast, she’s grinning and excited and telling me how yummy the first piece was. And I think that God wants that from me, too. For me to know that He’s not put off by my requests, and that He loves it when I come back to Him, asking for more and exclaiming how much I enjoyed what He has already given.
Thanks for letting me share!
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6-7