yard

I was talking with a friend recently. He was telling me his 2 grandsons had come to visit. The grandkids live in North Carolina & my friend is from Alabama. Their dad is in the military. So, they only get a few visits a year. One grandson is 8 years old & the other 5. One afternoon my friend had not gotten home yet. His family went ahead & had supper without him. After eating their meal, the 5 year old started asking his grandmother for dessert. She asked him what he wanted & he said ice cream. As she went to fix him a bowl of ice cream, the 8 year old pulls him to the side & says,

“Don’t ask Grandma for ice cream. You have to wait on Papa to get home. He gives you more.”

With that, the 5 year old calls off the ice cream with Grandma. As soon as my friend comes through the door, the 5 year old is all over him. Hugging & kissing him. Telling him how much he missed him. Then he politely asks,

“Papa, do you think I could have some ice cream?”

Unbeknownst to my friend, he happily agrees. Then, goes off to make 2 sweet boys big bowls of ice cream.

I love that story! It made me think if only we could be as patient with the Lord, we would reap so much more in the end. If I could discipline myself to see the big picture, of what’s to come, I would be more content. When temptations, in this life, come our way, if we could say,

“Nope, I’m passing that by, so that I can have the better things Christ has to offer,”

wouldn’t we all be ahead of the game? Just kick those things we are tempted by to the curb, because something better is coming. It sounds easy enough, but the flesh is weak. Or I know mine is!

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(NKJV)

Just when I think I have a bad attitude licked, here comes something I let make me worry & fret & get all in a tiz about. If I would just remember, this is the devil trying to break me down. But then, I go to talking when I should keep my mouth shut. I get to passing judgment & getting jealous instead of looking around at all of the blessings I already have. The devil is a smart one. He knows exactly what it takes to get us going. He will try every way he can to trip us up.

II Corinthians 2:11

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (NKJV)

I just need to remember, if I can make it past those obstacles, the Lord can give me more. However, if I choose to give in to temptations, nothing good comes out of it. And I have to remember, sometimes I can learn something from an 8 year old!

I hope you are having a great week. The sun is shining & the grass is growing (especially in my yard. Does anybody want to come mow it??) This is our first full week of school. Hoping everyone is getting back in the swing of things. This Friday Miss Neenee has a fitness test in PE. Please pray she will be able to get those sit ups & planks done like a boss. We have been working on it. Last night we walked 2 miles, with my 80 something year old friend from church. He can out walk me any day. Bless my heart. However, for now I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

Oh & did I tell you I think the devil makes people not use proper road signals? This is exactly how I feel when they do not.