“It’s a gift for Sarah-Faith’s birthday. She turns six in a few days, right?”
How did she know.
A few months ago, before we took an epic international flight to North America, I’d asked my girls, aged 5 and 3, what they’d like Mama to buy for them to survive the long flight.
Every time we walked past this little toy store, they’d look longingly at a particular toy makeup kit.
“They’re too young for this,” I thought. “And this is too expensive.”
In the end, I made my own DIY makeup kit for them- from extra lip balm, cotton buds, and toilet accessories lying around the house. They never asked for the toy kit again.
But months later, when my girls had matured a little more, a friend brought this unexpected and timely gift along. Tears dammed behind my eyes.
All this while, my girls never complained. Even though I withheld something they clearly articulated they wanted several times, they never doubted my integrity, character or goodness. They never turned their hearts away from me. Their faith in my love for them was steadfast and unchanging.
I watched their joy, pure like gold.
Then a question hit me like a ton of bricks- When my prayers go unanswered, how do I act?
I complain. I doubt God’s integrity, His character, His goodness. I sometimes turn my heart away, wondering if He cares. My faith in His love for me waxes and wanes depending on whether I can weave a testimony out of it— or not.
Today, if you’re struggling with unanswered prayers, if you’re watching, green with envy, with others’ answered prayers while you wrestle with feeling forgotten, know this – God is mindful of your needs. He knows all your desires.
But at times, He waits a little while for us to grow and deepen in maturity, and then gifts what we need to us, when perhaps, it no longer has a hold on us anymore.
When I think of my girls, I’m reminded- not to keep score with God through what He gives or does not give.
Rather, to just enjoy my relationship with Him, just as how my girls did with me— purely, wholeheartedly, without want or gain. 🎁
Thank you for teaching me about the Father’s love, and for modelling TRUST to me, girls.💛🎁🌈