Just Say Yes

 

When snow hits our area I usually let out a sigh of relief. My kids generally live outdoors so when it is bitter cold, with no snow, they tend to get stir-crazy. As soon as the snow hits (the days can be counted on one hand usually each year—zero last year), then they are outside for hours. Time for me to warm up a hot cocoa and snuggle up with a good book (I read The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth during this last snowstorm—my new favorite piece of literature!) This year, the snow has been seeming to last a little longer than normal. One day, my youngest asked me in passing if I would go out to have a snowball fight with him. His older siblings were worn out. To his surprise, I said, “Yes”, while grabbing my winter coat and gloves. You should have seen his face. I'm from upstate NY living in Southwestern Virginia. I miss snow!! Of course, he doesn't really understand that.

He doesn't know about the hours spent sledding down the hill at the end of my road, ice skating at the rink two blocks away, or the countless tunnels my friends and I dug in the local church parking lot in the huge mounds of plowed snow. That was my childhood. The neighborhood had a ton of kids so snowball wars are not a foreign concept. The inner child quickly came to the surface and wanted to connect with my son in his childhood. Not just because I miss the good ol' days, but because I want my son to hear me say, “Yes”, once in a while in a world full of so many no's. Being my fifth child, it is not hard for me to lay down the law and say no. I know my boundries and I establish them. That said, as soon as he asked, and I said that I would I determined in my mind to continue saying, “Yes” to the little things. I saw how much it meant to him when I said that I would play with him and he even responded in shock (and a smile) saying he did not think I would! We then had a blast outside. He was full of giggles and joy. It was a memory that neither of us with forget! Later in the day, he made some snow ice-cream, Little House on the Prairie-style. He asked me if I wanted some. I normally would say, “No” because I am cutting back on sugar but I remembered the promise to myself.  

Even though I only had a bite, I could see that he was so pleased. Since determining to say, “Yes,” I have participated in at least one more snowball fight, learned how to play the card game Bang!, and read some unique children's books. These moments are memories in the making.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11)

This passage comes after the famous ask, seek and knock passage, but this part is so often overlooked. If, like my son, we ask the Lord for good gifts, he absolutely wants to give them to us. If I want to see a child come to know the Lord, He wants that to happen just as much as I do. The prosperity gospel has thwarted so many minds as to what good gifts actually are but for those of you truly desiring what the Lord desires, He simply wants you to ask. It is not a sin to ask for your daily bread, God encourages that type of prayer in the Lord's prayer. Therefore, asking for a job to provide for your family is asking for a good gift. Asking for a mansion when you have a perfect acceptable house when you are not in a position to pay for it, that might be a little much. If God blesses you with a mansion or the means to own one, use it for His glory, the point is, God has good gifts for you, and you know which ones you have been hesitant about asking him for. Don't be afraid to be like my son—and just ask!