Lessons.....

It's so Hard to swallow what we don't like!

We recently had vegetable soup for lunch.  Those that finished got a handful of chocolate chips.  But for one two year old, this was a daunting task.  He had such a hard time swallowing that bite!  I just couldn't resist getting a quick snapshot of him!  Oh, I tried and tried to convince this cute little boy that swallowing his food would be a good idea!  He finally accomplished the task and we all applauded him.  This helped him to swallow several more bites.  His joy was evident with each applause.  And then......showing a bit of grace, I decided to give him one "last" bite (there were several bites left).  I told him, "Swallow this one last bite and then you can have this pile of chocolate chips!"  He smiled, mouth now full of that cold soup. I imagined the smile that would be there when he at last finished.  I'd ask him, "have you swallowed?"  He then would open his mouth to reveal that mashed up mess. And I would coax him.....I wanted so badly to reward his hard work!  I couldn't wait to place his reward in front of him and tell him he had done a good job!

So, how do you think this story ended?  Welllll, I told him again to swallow his food.  He then decided to gag and spit it out.  I then knew what must happen.  And with sorrow in my heart, I disciplined him and put him in bed for his nap....giving his chocolate chips to an older brother (this older brother had this same problem often approx 12 years ago!)  This grieved me as I know it grieved him.

1st mission accomplished with many tears.

This little story reminds me of our Heavenly Father.  How often do we choose to disobey Him because we think the task is too difficult?  Don't you think that God desires to reward us for our hard work and obedience?  Just as we may look at the (true) story above and think, "that is soooo easy, why didn't he just swallow?"  We each are given tasks that may or may not seem simple to others, and with the help of Christ, we can get them done.  But are we willing to do it?  Or do we allow our strong will to overcome us?  We don't know when our time will come to meet the Father, could this be that last "bite" before you are presented with your reward?  Or will you only have wood, hay, and stubble?  I know that I desired greatly to give a good gift to my son, how much more do you think God wants to reward us?

Happy about that, now just a few more bites!

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."  Matt 16;24-27

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Phil 3;14