"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24
Sinking into bubbles of eucalyptus and mint I tried to block out my daughters’ symphony of screams. Emmalyne cried in her crib and Makayla plastered her face to the bathroom door with sobs of, “Mommy, Mommy.” I took a deep breath to relax, after all, that was my whole reason for soaking in the tub.
Maybe if I’m really quiet, they’ll stop and cry out for their Dad.
Not a chance. Why? Because children are relentless. These persistent beings never stop until they either get disciplined, or hopefully, get what they wanted.
Earlier today I trudged through the snow, with the girls in tow. As we tobogganed, Emmalyne kept on pointing in the distance toward the park. I explained we don’t climb the playground in the winter. It was dangerous. Who was I kidding? She’s 17 months and had no clue what I said. Eventually I caved and found myself sitting at the bottom of a slide. Makayla happily rolled around in snowdrifts. Emmalyne stood and grunted for the swings.
“No Emmalyne. It’s too cold to swing.”
Grunt.
“It’s too cold. We swing in the summer.”
Grunt.
The exchange of grunts and explanations continued for a couple of minutes until I picked my daughter up. I managed to squeeze her puffy snowsuit and boots into the baby swing. While I lightly pushed my little rascal back and forth, she leaned back and gave me the biggest grin.
We can learn a lot from our children. Although annoying to parents, their amazing abilities to never give up is Biblical. In Luke 11, there is a parable about a relentless friend who needed food from a neighbour at midnight. He got the loaves of bread, not because of his status as friend, but because he wouldn’t shut up. The Bible encourages us to be persistent with our prayers. So, don’t give up.
Luke 11:5-13
Mark 11:24
Matthew 7:7-12
Maybe if I’m really quiet, they’ll stop and cry out for their Dad.
Not a chance. Why? Because children are relentless. These persistent beings never stop until they either get disciplined, or hopefully, get what they wanted.
Earlier today I trudged through the snow, with the girls in tow. As we tobogganed, Emmalyne kept on pointing in the distance toward the park. I explained we don’t climb the playground in the winter. It was dangerous. Who was I kidding? She’s 17 months and had no clue what I said. Eventually I caved and found myself sitting at the bottom of a slide. Makayla happily rolled around in snowdrifts. Emmalyne stood and grunted for the swings.
“No Emmalyne. It’s too cold to swing.”
Grunt.
“It’s too cold. We swing in the summer.”
Grunt.
The exchange of grunts and explanations continued for a couple of minutes until I picked my daughter up. I managed to squeeze her puffy snowsuit and boots into the baby swing. While I lightly pushed my little rascal back and forth, she leaned back and gave me the biggest grin.
We can learn a lot from our children. Although annoying to parents, their amazing abilities to never give up is Biblical. In Luke 11, there is a parable about a relentless friend who needed food from a neighbour at midnight. He got the loaves of bread, not because of his status as friend, but because he wouldn’t shut up. The Bible encourages us to be persistent with our prayers. So, don’t give up.
Luke 11:5-13
Mark 11:24
Matthew 7:7-12