During the school year, my morning routine usually involves some sort of breakfast preparation. I try and whip something interesting up before I have to drive my daughter to school. Sometimes when the bed feels just too cozy to leave and I snooze a few extra times, I end up running a little behind. In my rush to get things ready, I sometimes get into a “zone.” You know, it’s that way that you get when you are so intent on something with laser like focus nothing else takes priority. I focus on how to efficiently get breakfast prepared for everyone, eat my own, clean things up and get us out the door in time to make it to school without anyone being tardy. I begin to plan my next 15 minutes down to what seems like the second. Thoughts like, “OK, if I start the eggs first, that will give me about 3 minutes to set up the coffee maker. By then I can flip the eggs and then load the toaster. After that I can run over to the cupboard, grab the cups and set them on the table. But on the way from the cupboard to the table I can stop by the silverware drawer and grab the utensils and set them out. Then back to the fridge to grab the juice and the butter and the cream for my coffee. OK then it’ll be about time to pull the eggs off of the burner and then the toaster will pop.” You know, I am in “the zone.”
So it’s one of those mornings and I am in “the zone” and my daughter walks in to the kitchen. She says, “hey Dad, whatcha makin’ for breakfast?” As I began to execute my perfectly orchestrated breakfast plan, I told her, “We are having eggs and toast.” At that time I’m thinking, the plan is going good, things are right on schedule and we’re going to make it OK today. Then with the cutest little expression she asks, “Can’t we have CoCo Wheats?” BUT WAIT! Doesn’t she know I was going to make eggs and toast? All in an instant, it seemed like my racing thoughts came to a screeching halt. My jaw dropped open. My first thoughts were of course all about me. That wasn’t what I had just been in the “zone” about. I can’t change my plans now. We might be late. But then, I looked at that pretty little smile and those bright eyes and I though, “why not? CoCo Wheats aren’t unhealthy and we probably have the time.” What loving father doesn’t want to see his children happy? What dad doesn’t want his children to get the things they ask for? Deep down inside every dad wants the best for his kids. Now don’t get me wrong. I do not want children that do not appreciate what they already have, but I really do desire for them to be happy and get the desires of their heart.
Suddenly I though of how much God loves His children. How He wants the best for us. I was reminded of when Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” I was reminded of how it really is His will that we be blessed, healthy and well provided for. That’s how it was in the beginning, in the garden with Adam and Eve. And God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He loves us more than you can imagine. So much that He gave His own Son to die, so that we could be saved. And He is never too busy. He is never in a hurry to get to school on time. He is always there for you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He already made His move. Now you make yours. Just ask.
