Like most parents, I consider myself a pretty good Mom, I could go as far as Timbuktu, if I have the means and the opportunity to get my kids what I believe is good for them and help them achieve their potential. In the past week, I have done the ‘supermom’ runs twice, and a profound thought came to me during this time.
I picked up my kids from school last week Friday, and as our usual routine we went shopping at a local superstore. As I was minding my business, entering the store, I saw a Coca-Cola company truck with people lined up at various points. As we drew closer, we saw that they were queuing up to put their names on the Coca-Cola cans and bottles in the ‘share a Coke’ campaign.
In these parts, the ‘share a coke campaign is a really big deal and everyone wants their name on a bottle or can of Coca-cola. My daughters begged and pleaded for me to have their names on a can, and I reluctantly conceded. Little did I know what I was going in for. It took over two hours of staying on the queues in the hot sun to get four cans of Coca Cola out- not to mention the haggling and the harassments from queue jumpers and the like.
Interestingly, people on the queue were mothers like me (and some fathers) who would rather be somewhere else doing something else but sweating it out on a hot Friday afternoon for a 35cl can of Coke that the child would finish in a few minutes and throw the can away. I recall meeting a woman there that had stayed for much longer than me and was getting really cranky, but the joy on her children’s faces when she gave them the cans; one could tell that putting those smiles on her children’s faces was worth it.
Just recently, my last daughter requested that she wanted something from a particular place. There were many other places that I could have gotten what she wanted, but I guess there was something about the product from this particular outlet that she liked. The problem was the traffic getting to and from the place. I braved the hot weather and the bad traffic to get exactly what she wanted, even though there were easier options, and nothing could compare to the sincere and heartfelt thank you got from my daughter.
I am sure that all of us can identify with what I am talking about, especially parents, guardians, aunties and uncles amongst us, which we all are. Most, if not all of us can go to any length to bring a smile on the faces of our children, especially if it is something they really and sincerely desire.
Moreover, a lot of us are making such big sacrifices because of our children, to send them to Ivy league schools locally and abroad, to ensure that they have the basics and more, we go through a lot of stress to not only meet their basic needs, but to satisfy their whims and desires.
As I was driving out of the terrible traffic after I had gotten what she wanted, I am reminded of this scripture: ‘If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him’ Matt 7:11
Jesus is saying here that if we, as fickle as we are can go to any length to get our children their wants (beyond their needs) and selflessly and sacrificially provide for them, God is willing and able to do much more.
A lot of us though, because we have not seen what we want come to pass are beginning to doubt if God is willing and able to give us what we want. We are even afraid to ask anymore.
God is a good God; He will grant us our heart’s desire. He will do beyond what any supermom or super-dad would do. He created Fatherhood and Motherhood, and the attributes of Parenting are His. He gives good things to His children, not what will harm them. Selfless ad sacrificial giving comes from Him.
He’s your Father. He loves you, He wants the best for you, and just as you give your best to your children, God will do much more for you, His child. Keep faith in Him that He God loves you. The Bible says that ‘even if a mother forgets her suckling child, God will not forget you' (Isa. 49:15-16) . Now for a nursing mother to forget her suckling child will be pretty hard, emotional and biologically, but God says that even if that is the case, He will never forget you.
Children ask parents what they want and what they need without asking them how they will get it, because it is not their responsibility to think about that, it is the responsibility of the parent. It also shows absolute confidence in the ability and the willingness of the parent to get what the child wants. That is the kind of faith God wants you to have in Him. Don’t think about how He will get it for you, just ask for it. Let Him do the thinking!
If I can brave the hot sun for over two hours for a 35cl of Coke, God can, and will brave eternity for you to give you your heart’s desire. ‘…Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you’
Enjoy your day
Yemi Falayajo writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
I picked up my kids from school last week Friday, and as our usual routine we went shopping at a local superstore. As I was minding my business, entering the store, I saw a Coca-Cola company truck with people lined up at various points. As we drew closer, we saw that they were queuing up to put their names on the Coca-Cola cans and bottles in the ‘share a Coke’ campaign.
In these parts, the ‘share a coke campaign is a really big deal and everyone wants their name on a bottle or can of Coca-cola. My daughters begged and pleaded for me to have their names on a can, and I reluctantly conceded. Little did I know what I was going in for. It took over two hours of staying on the queues in the hot sun to get four cans of Coca Cola out- not to mention the haggling and the harassments from queue jumpers and the like.
Interestingly, people on the queue were mothers like me (and some fathers) who would rather be somewhere else doing something else but sweating it out on a hot Friday afternoon for a 35cl can of Coke that the child would finish in a few minutes and throw the can away. I recall meeting a woman there that had stayed for much longer than me and was getting really cranky, but the joy on her children’s faces when she gave them the cans; one could tell that putting those smiles on her children’s faces was worth it.
Just recently, my last daughter requested that she wanted something from a particular place. There were many other places that I could have gotten what she wanted, but I guess there was something about the product from this particular outlet that she liked. The problem was the traffic getting to and from the place. I braved the hot weather and the bad traffic to get exactly what she wanted, even though there were easier options, and nothing could compare to the sincere and heartfelt thank you got from my daughter.
I am sure that all of us can identify with what I am talking about, especially parents, guardians, aunties and uncles amongst us, which we all are. Most, if not all of us can go to any length to bring a smile on the faces of our children, especially if it is something they really and sincerely desire.
Moreover, a lot of us are making such big sacrifices because of our children, to send them to Ivy league schools locally and abroad, to ensure that they have the basics and more, we go through a lot of stress to not only meet their basic needs, but to satisfy their whims and desires.
As I was driving out of the terrible traffic after I had gotten what she wanted, I am reminded of this scripture: ‘If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him’ Matt 7:11
Jesus is saying here that if we, as fickle as we are can go to any length to get our children their wants (beyond their needs) and selflessly and sacrificially provide for them, God is willing and able to do much more.
A lot of us though, because we have not seen what we want come to pass are beginning to doubt if God is willing and able to give us what we want. We are even afraid to ask anymore.
God is a good God; He will grant us our heart’s desire. He will do beyond what any supermom or super-dad would do. He created Fatherhood and Motherhood, and the attributes of Parenting are His. He gives good things to His children, not what will harm them. Selfless ad sacrificial giving comes from Him.
He’s your Father. He loves you, He wants the best for you, and just as you give your best to your children, God will do much more for you, His child. Keep faith in Him that He God loves you. The Bible says that ‘even if a mother forgets her suckling child, God will not forget you' (Isa. 49:15-16) . Now for a nursing mother to forget her suckling child will be pretty hard, emotional and biologically, but God says that even if that is the case, He will never forget you.
Children ask parents what they want and what they need without asking them how they will get it, because it is not their responsibility to think about that, it is the responsibility of the parent. It also shows absolute confidence in the ability and the willingness of the parent to get what the child wants. That is the kind of faith God wants you to have in Him. Don’t think about how He will get it for you, just ask for it. Let Him do the thinking!
If I can brave the hot sun for over two hours for a 35cl of Coke, God can, and will brave eternity for you to give you your heart’s desire. ‘…Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you’
Enjoy your day
Yemi Falayajo writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
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