If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a popular children's book. In fact, Laura Numeroff (teacher probs) has a whole series based on giving animals something and that thing causing them to want something different. I read these books to my kids at school and they absolutely love them.
As I was trying to go to sleep last night, I was reflecting on life and this season I find myself in. I guess thinking about the hopes and dreams I had as a little girl caused me to think about this story. Strange, I know, but I don't claim to be normal.
With the taste of freedom each new experience in life brings, the girl in my story finds herself wanting more, more, more. When she gets what she's been hoping for and it doesn't bring the fulfillment she expected, she continues to look forward to the next thing life has to offer.
This is a story about a little girl who dreams about being many things; from a princess to a cashier. She grows up quickly and soon reaches her teen years. The young girl can't wait to be old enough to make her own decisions. If you give her a license, she'll probably want a new car. Once she gets a new car, she'll want to stay out later. The curfews and rules of her parent's house will cause her to dream of the day when she can move out and go to college. Once she's in college, she'll be eager to graduate and get a job. Once she has a job, her heart will ache for a partner. She will search and search for a guy to provide the love and affection she longs for. Not long after she finds him, she'll want a ring. She won't want to be engaged long because she can't wait to be married. Once she's married, she'll realize something is still missing. Naturally, she want a baby. After a couple of years of being a young mom and with each new stage, she will get tired and burnt out. She will long for the days when her baby is "past this stage". Once her child gets older and moves away, she will look back and realize how fast her baby grew up. Now, she longs for the day when she can retire and do whatever she wants. Once she's retired she will have lots of time to reflect on her life and all that she has experienced. While she's reflecting, she will realize she has wished and hurried her life away; hoping for the next stage of life to bring satisfaction and fulfillment; never taking time to sit and soak in all that God was teaching and showing her through each season of life.
I don't want to be like the little old lady at the end of this poorly written story. It is a constant struggle for me to be content right where I am. I find myself asking God for things and not long after he blesses me with them, I complain. I think to myself, "Well, that's not how I thought it would be. I can't wait until ________."
I don't usually use the word 'hate', but I hate this about myself. I am never satisfied. I have not learned how to be content in all things. I have not learned to find my satisfaction in the Lord alone. I put my hopes and dreams into earthly things. I look to them for fulfillment. I think they can satisfy the desires of my heart. But I'm terribly wrong.
It is a constant battle for me to fight to be satisfied in Christ. Daily, I struggle to remember and believe that he is my portion; that he is more than enough for me.
"The point of life is not to keep looking ahead, but to look to the Lord to be our portion at every stage of life." -Karen Ehman, Embrace the Wait, Proverbs 31 Ministries
Lord, help me to look to you rather than looking ahead to each new stage of life. Help me to rest in where you have me now. While I wait, I will seek you. Help me to soak up all that this stage has to offer, because soon, it will be gone.
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