A Yes Kind of Day

So often my first response to the kids requests is a flat out no. I honestly don't even take time to think about what I shot down half the time either. I have my agenda and nothing is going to disrupt that, not even a simple, "Mommy can you color with me?" Coloring usually lasts a whole 5 minutes. What is so important that I can't spend 5 minutes coloring?

Today I decided I would say yes to my kids. (Mainly just Bren since Ella is having a sleep over with my parents, and Connor really doesn't ask much.) It was a new day in the Graf house. I would default to yes for any "Can/May we DO" questions, but would not immediately answer on the "Can/May we HAVE" demands. I would not immediately shoot those down either; but strive to think about what was asked and answer appropriately. I feel very convicted about not creating entitled children. By giving into the haves; I take the first step to creating selfish beings who believe just by the mere sound of their voice asking for something it will be given to them.

Who will be able to have faith in a God who doesn't always answer prayers immediately or with the answer a person wants? God has given us each free will to DO whatever it is we want, though. Many times I've battled with what God's will is for my life. What does he want me to be doing. I've quickly learned it's not the detail of what I do, but it's the deeper issues of how & why I do what I do. What does my soul look like? Am I out to look good and reap earthly rewards, or am I living for my Savior, ready to stand before the Bema Seat an receive the crowns the Lord has for me? I hope by demonstrating in a safe environment (to a certain extent) that my kids can do whatever they want, so to speak, but consequences follow. If you really want mommy to color with you, dinner might be a few minutes later. Not an earth shattering ordeal. When my children approach me with the, "Mom, can I please have ..." I hope that they will see I sincerely stop, consider the impact the requested item will have on the current situation and/or Jacob & I's long term parenting goals, and I make a judgment call to the best of my ability. Similar to how God hears & responds to each and everyone of our prayers (how totally amazing is that?!).* What we can see of His plan for our life is just a tiny pin hole's worth. So God says, "Yes, Lisa you can do cake decorating, you can do volunteer work, you can do drugs, get wasted, you can do whatever you want. When you get serious and you want to live a life for me & align your priorities correctly, I'm going to be here to help clean up the ways of your past and your mistakes and we'll get you back on track the right way." (Another fun little side thought is that God knows every little sidetrack I'm going to make, he knows my mistakes, and yet ultimately uses those to bring Him glory. So we never get 'off track' technically!) However, when I approach His throne and ask God for a cure, for wealth, or anything tangible; I'm sure God ponders that. He doesn't want to create any entitled heavenly beings either!

Looking forward to practicing the new Yes Attitude when Ella rejoins our family. This will be more of a challenge as her attention span is much more focused and long lasting compared to a 2 year old boy's. Coloring could very well take an hour ... but yes we can color, we just might not be eating for a l o n g while!

* my ponderings are by no means an accurate representations of what God's intentions really are, or how he operates; just my personal interpretations.