PEPORONICHEEZITSCOOKIESPURPLEGRAPEGATORADE
I stopped at the grocery store after a long day to pick up some milk and lunch meat when I got the following text from my son. “I’m home. If you have money can you please get the following item: peporonicheezitscookiespurplegrapesgatorade?” For some reason the items ran together so I spent a few minutes looking for pepperoni flavored cheezits; I finally settled on “hot and spicy” cheezits, thinking my son really liked his pepperoni and he thinks they actually make pepperoni flavored cheezits. I didn’t even factor into the equation that all the words were running together, therefore, I should have figured out that they were all separate items. But, busy moms stopping off at the grocery store after a long day don’t always have all cells firing in their brain as they are supposed to be firing. I’ll have to tell you about the time I showed up to Supercuts for a “Free Hair Cut Day” for my son because I actually thought it was “Free Hair Cut Day.” I kid you not. But for now, I’ll stick to this story. I picked up the items for Jacob (less the Gatorade because I had some on the top of the fridge that he couldn’t see), and I walked in the door with the goods in hand.
“Thanks so much, Mom; you are the best!” Jacob said. He added, “I can’t thank you enough for all you do for me and for Faith and for Dad.” I wanted to cry. As my kids get older, I find myself getting more emotional. Faith is almost 16, and Jacob will be 13 this summer. I don’t know where the time has gone. Also, Jacob was so appreciative. Sometimes I feel bad when my kids ask me for something and they preface it with, “If you have enough money can you please get me…?” And they are always super excited when I am able to do it, and they let me know how thankful they are. I told Faith she could get two boxes of cereal one day. While standing in the cereal aisle (real loud she said), “Oh my gosh; thanks so much, Mom! I can’t believe I get to get TWO boxes of my very own favorite kind! Are you sure we have enough money?” Whoever was standing around looked at us and smiled at me.
I don’t know if the smiles meant they felt bad for us, pitied us, or if they could relate with us. Regardless of what their smiles meant, I was a little embarrassed, but it didn’t matter. I guess what I’m leading up to here is that my kids are not spoiled and they go without a lot of the things they “want,” often waiting patiently for an item or two that they need (new tennis shoes), but they are patient and they understand that we are doing the best we can. It makes them appreciative of the little things. The little things are actually big things. I am constantly reminded that the little things in life are really huge things to the hearts of those who request them from their parents.
My kids’ hearts cause my heart to be that much more tender and/or vulnerable to God. I thought about how Jacob’s grocery text to me probably resembled my recent requests to God:
“In your way and in Your time, if it is Your will, Dad (and I know you’ve confirmed that you will do it), will you pick up a puppyortwoandahousewithafireplace?” And please bless usprotectusfromevilandexpandourterritory. Please bless all the women involved in the ministry and provide for them salariesandblessingsbeyondmeasure for their sacrificededicationandsteadfastfaith.”
I know my Dad in Heaven receives my prayer and He smiles about providing these things – not because I am worthy and not because I have a ton of faith, but simply because He is a Dad of Grace. He loves to pick up things for His children who ask Him. He especially loves to pick us up and hug us tight because He loves us so very much, and He loves to provide for His children because we know that only He can. He is a Dad of Grace, and His heart melts even more than ours when we say to Him what Jacob said to me, “Thanks so much, Dad; you are the best! I can’t thank you enough for all you do for me and for the family you have entrusted to me on this earth.” He loves to be loved even more than we love to be loved by our kids. He loves us with amazing grace.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Warrior Moms Unite!®
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.