Asking God to Act

When my son was about three years old my parents came for a visit. One of my Dad’s favorite things to do with the grandkids was to take them to the “dime store,” or dollar store as we call them today, and let them pick out a toy. My daughter picked out something quickly but my son kept looking and it became apparent that he had something specific in mind.

   “Son, what are you looking for,” I asked?

   “A zooer,” he said. “I want a zooer.”

   “What’s a zooer,” I was almost afraid to ask?

   “You know, a zooer,” he said more emphatically, and with a bit of frustration in his voice added, “like yours. Zzzzzzzzzz, a zooer.”

Now I’m completely mystified. My Dad started to laugh and my son started to get upset. Then a light came on. I tried to look at it from a three year olds perspective and suddenly it occurred to me. He wanted a toy weed trimmer. He did not know what is was called but he correctly identified the sound that it made. To my surprise we found one but when it did not actually trim weeds or make the right sound he tired of it quickly. What he got was not exactly what he wanted.

As a child I rarely asked for anything. It just seemed liked everything I needed was already provided. We were neither rich nor poor by most people’s standards. But, we did not lack for necessities and my parents taught me to be happy with what we had. My parents had both grown up poor and had learned to make the most of what they had. That was a gift that has served me well and I am grateful that they passed it on to their children.

When I moved away to college I discovered a whole new meaning to asking and receiving. When I asked for money to spend on myself I received slow responses and small amounts, if any. But, when I wrote home that I needed a new pair of jeans because of the weather and a new pair of shoes to sing in the chorale I got a quick reply and enough money to purchase the necessary items. They responded to my need but not always to my want.

As a father I now know how difficult that was for my parents. We cannot give children everything they want because we cannot afford it and it would not be good for them. We sometimes wish we could give them more. We do well to give them what they need.

When Jesus taught us to pray he included the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 esv) The “daily bread” that Jesus was talking about literally means, “bread for tomorrow.” He taught us to ask for our needs for just one more day. He wants to give us what we need and everything we want that fits his plan for our lives. He wants us to ask so he can give.

Bro. Robin