Lessons through a child

There are so many things that I've wanted to write about but being a busy mom has kept me from the computer. So I'll share the little lesson that I received through my son today.

I was up at the church tonight working on our new First Time Family check in station. Liam was on the floor playing. He was playing with his new toy from Tupper Ware, you know that red and blue ball with the shapes....yep...he likes it. He was picking up the shapes and putting each one in his mouth. Since he's still working on his dexterity some of the shapes were getting away from him. One would fly and he would scoot to chase after it. Well, while chasing a shape a bottle of water caught his eye....his new goal, the bottle of water. So he set off to get this bottle; scooting/Crawling (military style) eagerly trying to reach what he wanted. In his path was a small changing bag, so he started making his way over this bag, which got him in a pickle because now his body was at a higher level (like he was body surfing) and he wasn't able to figure it out. Anyway, he began to reach and stretch and strain to get this bottle of water. Slowly but surely, he got his fingers on the bottle. He worked and worked and he could see his prize almost in his complete grasp. With determination and focus, he finally got that bottle of water. In his little mind he had succeeded!! Then out of nowhere, his prize was pulled from his grasp.

The lesson I got from this was:
There are many things that we try to reach for or that we want, a job, a new car, a new toy, a new relationship, or even a new life. We reach and stretch and try to push through the obstacles, sometimes with success, sometimes without success. But we push and strive for what we want. Then when we get it we are excited and feel like we have a huge victory. But then that prize is pulled out of our grasp.There are things in my life that I've pushed for and wanted and have succeeded in getting. Then God out of nowhere comes in and removes that prize. It wasn't meant for me. It's not what he wanted for me and in some cases it was not the best for me.

That was my lesson. Stop reaching for the things that I want and start focusing on the things that God has in store for me. Stop putting all my time and effort on what I want and wait for God to open the door for me.