“Those candy canes look so booty-ful mommy,” said 4-year-old Kaleb with a dreamy gaze. I chuckled as I watched his glimmering eyes stare adoringly at our tree decorated with those shiny red and white striped treats my husband, Kenya, brought home.
From the moment the candy canes were hung, I think Kaleb subconsciously set a goal for himself—to eat every single one. So, in an effort to convince his dear mother to continue giving him permission to unhook those peppermint delights from the tree branches, my little tyke constantly interjected candy canes into our conversation in any way he could.
In fact, he’s still doing it, although more than half of them are gone now.
“Uh, do you like pepp-o-mint candy canes too mommy?” he queries with a big innocent smile on his face. Isn’t it always funny to see kids ineffectively use the power of suggestion as a persuasion technique? They hardly ever do it well, but I get a kick out of it each time they try.
Being that Christmas only comes once a year, I’m a lot more generous than I would ordinarily be with the sweets. But I still have to keep measures in place to control Kaleb’s candy cane intake, and the same goes for his sisters and brothers. Even after my little negotiator has far exceeded his quota for any given day, Kaleb will keep coming back until I say, “No more candy today okay? You’ve had enough.”
So yesterday, he came to me with what I thought would be his usual routine— asking for another candy cane after he had maxed out. But, before I could say anything, Kaleb surprised me by going into a somewhat lengthy spiel that left both me and Kenya surprised in a good way. “I can’t have anymore candy canes, right mommy?” he asked without waiting for my answer before he continued. “If I eat too many, ‘day’ will make my stomach hurt and ‘day’ are not healthy. I can have ‘dem’ sometimes, but not all the time, right mommy?”
When he finally came up for air and stopped talking, I smiled broadly and said, “You’re absolutely right! Very good Kaleb!” After that, he bopped on out the door and continued playing with his new Christmas toys.
Kenya and I just looked at each other and laughed, partially stunned.
We realized that Kaleb had been listening all along and internalizing the lessons. As a result, he was able to accept it when I said no, because he realized my refusal was for his own benefit. We can all learn a lesson from Kaleb.
Many times God denies some of our requests for our own good. If we would adopt Kaleb’s attitude and recognize that no is good for us on occasion, we would be less inclined to slip into depression when we don’t get our way.
As 2010 comes to an end, I admonish you to reflect back on the “no’s” in your life that manifested in the form of closed doors, unsuccessful endeavors, and even severed associations. Instead of feeling depressed, dejected, and despondent, thank God for His sovereignty. Praise Him for protecting you from potential dangers you could not see. Then give Him glory for the doors that may be closed today, that He’ll open in the future.
With God, it’s all about timing.
And the most comforting thing of all is knowing that when He finally says yes to the things that are in His will, you’ll be fully prepared and equipped to handle whatever God chooses to bestow upon you.
TODAY’S PRAYER: God I know You are sovereign and You love me more than I could ever imagine. And Lord, even when my prayers are not answered the way I want them to be, I yet love you, and trust that Your way is best for me. Please give me the strength and resolve to wait on You until my set time comes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
