Long ago, I was an early childhood teacher. Sammie was a little spitfire in my class. I wrote this at that time and I’m struck how much this lesson applies to me today.

Sammie is a beautiful blond 3 year old in my class. She loves life and has an infectious giggle. Sammie is also “full of vinegar”. She tests and pushes the limits looking at me as if to say
“Are you going to make me obey?”

One time at lunch, I told her to sit in a certain chair at the table.

She kicked the chair over and sat in another chair. I repeated the instruction and she began to scream.

I removed her from the table and said, “When you stop, you may come back and sit in this chair.”
She calmed down, returned to the table, looked at me and sat in another chair.

I sighed and removed her from the table to sit on my lap.

Actually, she laid across my lap screaming while I held her legs so she wouldn’t kick me.

“You’re hurting me! You’re hurting my voice! You’re choking me!” (I resisted the urge to giggle. Can you choke someone on their legs?)

I sat on the child sized chair while she continued her tirade. I was tired from this struggle, but I had to enforce the discipline. She had to learn that I was in charge.

Sammie was crying, sweating, and miserable.

Finally she stopped and snuggled up to me with her head on my shoulder. She gave me a hug.

I was able to say “I love you. I want you to do what’s right. You have to listen to me because I am the teacher. Now, let’s go back to your chair.”
She held my hand and walked back to the chair I had instructed her to sit in several minutes earlier.

All the sweat she could have saved if she had just sat in that darn chair.

God showed me a picture of my adult self behaving just like Sammie.

Screaming and running after God with what I want.

“NOW NOW NOW!”

God said “You have to wait.

I wanted my way and demanded it now.

God had to restrain a kicking and screaming me.

“You’re hurting me God!” “I can’t wait any longer.” “I’m choking!”

God sighed, exasperated that I’m not any more mature than a 3 year old having a temper tantrum.

He knows that I must submit to his will. He is in charge. So, when I stop screaming I can rest on his shoulder while he says,

“I love you. You must listen to me. I know what’s best for you. You have to let me be in charge. I want you to desire me and accept my wonderful will for your life. Now, go back to your chair. The one I’ve chosen for your to be on right now–lean on me. Trust me to provide for you. I love you. Take my hand, I’ll take you back.”
Being content in this “chair” he’s chosen for me to be in right now is a hard lesson. If I submit and rest and wait for him, I can save myself a lot of sweat, misery, and tears.

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