My baby brother is the cutest, smart seven year old around. And I'm not biased or anything. ;) His name is Seth. This awesome kid accept Christ and was baptized a couple of weeks ago. Makes me smile just thinking about that sweet news.
Seth, being raised in a Christian home, knows in his childlike ability the importance of prayer. And so a sweet story ensues...
Saturday we went to a Back-to-School bash at a local church. Seth had been talking about the event for weeks not because he was excited about getting school supplies, but because there would be a chance to win a Wii. To understand Seth's love for the Wii, you have to understand his love for our other brother. Seth looks up to his big brother who happens to own a Wii that he gives Seth permission to play from time to time. The chance to win the Wii was Seth's only motivation for going. He told me one night that he would definitely win the Wii because he had asked God to let him win. Of course, I tried to make sure he understood that sometimes God's answers to our prayers are "no", but that shouldn't keep us from asking. I did not want to see his little, tender heart broken. As the week went by, he would say things like, I can't wait to win my Wii. It made me nervous how determined he was that God was going to give him a Wii. Saturday came and he registered for the Wii. He would have to be present in children's church the next day to win. That was a problem. My dad pastors a church. Seth would have to convince him to let him go. *The church where the event was held is our other brother's church* As my mom was tucking Seth in bed Saturday, Seth told her that he had to go to be able to get his Wii. Our dad decided that it would be okay if he went to children's church the next day. In an effort to wrap this story up, I will tell you that Seth did not win the Wii. His friend Darian did. Little did we know, Darian had a Wii, and he chose, without knowing Seth wanted a Wii, to give it to Seth. I wish you could have seen Seth's face when he told us He got his Wii. God answer Seth's childlike prayer. I'm sure the Father was all smiles, celebrating with Seth over answered prayers.
I have to insert here, while we were nervous about Seth's infatuation with winning a Winning a Wii, we knew Seth's desire was not out of greed, but simply a honest desire. I know we can all relate to that. But I wonder how often do we trust God's desire to meet our desires. Psalm 5:3 says, In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and wait in expectation. We each have dreams and desires that have gone unanswered. We also have had dreams that we never expected to see happen that God, in His great love, simply breathed life into. God has a way that is higher and grander than we understand. Often we hand requests to God and selfishly wait in expectation. Forget selfish ambition. When we lay our dreams and desires at our loving Saviors feet, He answers with "Yes", "No", or "Wait". That is the truth we worked to teach Seth.
Seth will learn as he matures that dreams do not always come true. I pray that as he learns he will understand that "no" does not make the Father's love any less. It simply reveals His perfect wisdom.
Seth learned an important lesson today, and I did too.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11
Again, I'm not preaching a prosperity Gospel tonight. My point is God, our Heavenly Father, loves us very much. In love, He says, "No" and "Wait". It is that same love that compels Him to say, "yes". Today, Seth heard His "yes" loud and clear.
In His Name,
Jennifer
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