Legos and the Cross
After a long stressful and eventful day of traveling with our children back to our home in Poland, we finally boarded our last flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Gdansk, Poland. This is when my four-year old son looks at me with tears in his eyes and tells me that he misses his friends already. I quickly tell him that I feel the same way and to think of things that make him happy.
“Micah think of all your Legos that are waiting for you when we get home!”
“Think about how tonight how you get to sleep in your bunk bed!”
“Think about how you have awesome birthday presents waiting for you to be opened!”
Nothing cheered him up, because in that moment all he wanted was his friends.
I sat back in my uncomfortable chair on the plane and felt totally and completely defeated as a parent.
Then I started to pray for my son.
In that moment an old memory came into my head. It was about eight years ago when I was teaching. I had a horrific day. The students were disrespectful, a parent was mad at me, and I had piles and piles of essays to grade on my desk. All day at school I thought if I could just get to Starbucks and get a grande soy vanilla latte my day would be so much better: I would be happy.
So after school I went to Starbucks relieved that I was finally going to feel better. I envisioned myself sitting in a comfy chair drinking my latte with both hands tightly wrapped around my hot delicious drink. I also remember that day I was wearing my favorite dress.
I eagerly waited in line, gave my order and then finally stood to the side and waited for my drink. Now, have you ever had one of those moments when your life moves in slow motion? This was one for me. As the barista lifted my cup in the air and was handing it to me the lid popped off and my delicious drink spilled all over my favorite dress! Once again I felt totally defeated.
God taught me a very important lesson that day, I was looking for my peace and joy in something other then Him. In my hardest of moments, I was desiring momentary satisfaction. And I realized how often instead of looking to Him, I would emotionally “rest” in other things.
After my flash back, God brought me back to that moment. And I realized something… I was teaching my son to do the very same thing.
Instead pointing him to the cross in his time of hurt, and teaching him to rejoice in the Lord always, in my greatest of intentions, I pointed him to his Legos.
As parents, it hurts us to see our children hurt. And we would do anything to cheer then up. With hearts of love and good intentions, we take them shopping for a new toy, or take them their favorite restaurant or put on their favorite movie. All these things can be good and have their place.
However, are we teaching our children to rejoice in the Lord always first? Are we leading our children to prayer in moments of hurt, pain and uncertainty?
If we as parents will begin now to sow seeds of biblical hope and joy in the Lord when they are children, we will have the privilege of seeing those seeds blossom as they grow.
Lord, I confess my need for you. Help me as a mother to point my boys to the cross instead of momentary satisfaction. I pray that as I make this choice daily to teach them to find their peace, joy and comfort in you that you would create in them a heart that seeks you in all circumstances. –Amen
