I heard the once familiar whine from across the aisle. “But you promised!”
The mom stood up and sighed, “Honey, these are not in your size. We have to pick another one…”
The sniffles started followed by what sounded like an entourage of tears, flooding the aisle at ShoeMart, rattling the tiled foundation, stomping enough to shake the walls.
“I…don’t…want…those!” the growling, curly haired blonde, blue eyed, pretty in pink 4-year-old announced.
Ahhhhh, parenting.
My son Bo is in Law School at the University of Georgia. He’s starting his 3rd year in August. I think a prerequisite for law school should be a year of negotiating and contractual agreements with 4 to 17 year olds. Then, we’d have quality lawyers.
I wanted to intervene. To give my 28 years and 6 children experience and expertise, but I just stood quietly, cheering Mom on.
“Sweetie…” she began.
“NO! Never let the sentence begin with sweetie. Use her name,” I started to sweat for the Mom. I wanted to shout, “They smell fear, you know!”
“Mommy will make it right,” she interjected. “I promise.”
As parents, we can do our very best but we cannot promise because we never know. There’s always a potential for thunderstorm; sickness; shoes not fitting; toys not in stock; job obstacles; car trouble; flights being cancelled.
The wonderful part about God is, He can promise us…and He does. His promises are real and true. He knows what is up ahead for us. He knows our obstacles and struggles, and nothing or no one can stand in His way.
And while we often whine to God because something we wanted to happen didn’t in the way we wanted it to happen, we can be assured of His presence and never ending love. His plans for those Who love Him are good.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
On an aside: Parental 101 Legalese, “I will do everything within my power to bring/take/give/visit your request; however, such events which may occur to prohibit or prolong your requests include but are not limited to: shortage of money, car trouble, unavailability of item, job interference, sickness, traffic, long lines, time interference, birth of a baby, and any other possible obstacle through natural and unnatural causes included.”
