Lollipop Lesson

During my childhood, my mother and I would often pass the sweet counter in a certain department store. Each time, I asked for one of   the enticing lollipops that were six inches in diameter. After repeated denials, my mother relented one day and bought me one. At first, I was thrilled. However, as the afternoon wore on, I got tired of holding the wooden stick with its heavy load of sticky sweet. Mother warned me that if I put it down, it would get dirty and I would have to throw it away. That’s how I learned that getting what I thought I wanted wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

The Bible shows us several people who wanted something that turned out not to be such a good thing. For example, the prodigal son wanted his inheritance before his father died. After spending his money extravagantly, he ended up impoverished and hungry. I often wondered why his father agreed to give his son his inheritance, but maybe it was the same lesson my mother taught me when she bought me the huge lollipop. At times, God seems to teach that lesson, too. I’ve learned that it’s important to end my prayer requests with, ‘Your will be done.’ God knows what is best for me.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for caring for us enough to say, ‘No’. Amen