Mindy Johnson

I told Walter and Carrie that they had to have a nap today.
We don't normally take naps, neither one of them go to bed very well at night, especially Carrie- if she sleeps.
I told Walter there may be something special later if he does.

We may be taking the kids to Chuck E Cheese tonight with some friends. They don't know this.

So I convinced him that something else was in store if he just laid down and had a rest.
Carrie? She's still making noises almost 45 minutes later, and I have put her back in bed at least 5 times now.

In fact, I just came back from taking her shoes. We struck a deal, or so I thought...that she could wear her dress shoes to bed, as long as she stayed in bed. And of course, my "spirited" child decides her own agenda includes walking around with her shoes on instead of holding to our "agreement."

So I took them with me.

Is it really necessary to fight this hard over a pair of shoes? Over laying down in bed and having a rest?

Can't she just trust me that perhaps on the other side of this is something worth sleeping/resting for? Worth listening and obeying and submitting to her mother for?

And how much I am like this with my Father!
How I can't see past my want/(what I think is my need)
- for "shoes", my need for what I want right now, this moment, and not see ahead of me that perhaps God has something wonderful in store...so much better than a "pair of shoes"...or whatever else I have in mind.

And if Carrie doesn't rest, she doesn't get to go to Chucky E Cheese, and here's where it really is going to stink...her brother doesn't get to go either.

So how many times do we miss doing something for God and it would have blessed someone else?

Hmmm....