This weekend we took care of two grandchildren without their parents. It’s not the first time, but it was the first time we’d had the three-year-old granddaughter along with her older brother.
Her favorite two phrases seemed to be, “I want” and “I don’t want.” Whether it was food or candy, clothing, or activities, whatever we offered was the opposite of what she wanted. And what she wanted was often something we considered off limits (like candy or breakable items or the remote for the light/fan, which we didn’t want misplaced).
At three, her insistence on having her own way is understandable. She is still at the age where she thinks she’s the center of the world (and, at grandparents’ house, she usually is).
The problem arises when we think we are the center of our world. We want what we want. Many times, we don’t want to do what we know we should do.
Jesus told His followers, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21, ESV)
In our hearts, we want to follow Him. But our minds and our physical desires often win over our spiritual desires. Like our granddaughter, sometimes we dig in our heels and ignore the commands of the Word. We make excuses, tell ourselves that commandment is outdated, or pretend we forgot.
But there comes a time when we have to grow up. The ultimate decision is between going our own way and going His.
Which will you choose?
