One of my most favourite things is when our almost four-year-old comes into the bedroom in the morning for snuggles. His hair is all ruffled and his eyes are still sleepy as he nestles into my arms. I kiss him on the head and for that moment, everything is perfect.
Some of my least favourite parenting moments are when he constantly asks me for things. Every advertisement, kids show, playdate with friends or at the local playground leads to... "Mummy, I was thinking about buying..." or "Mummy, I want to have..."
I love it when my son wants me, and not the things, the 'blessings' that I can give to him.
Parenting has opened my eyes a lot to how it might be for our Father God. Since thinking about this, I have been intentionally noticing the amount of time I spend asking God for something versus the times I just want Him, and His presence.
We named our eldest Levi purposefully. In the Bible, when the promised land was being divided among the tribes of Israel, the Levites were not given land, because their inheritance and their reward was the Lord Himself, and to serve him in the temple. (See Numbers 18)
We hope and pray that Levi will grow to be a man who loves God, and lives his life as an offering, without seeking first the inevitable blessings that come from being in God's family.
It's a challenge. We have needs and desires. And they are valid. But as a parent, I already know what our sons need to grow and thrive and I take additional delight in giving them above and beyond those basic needs.
And being nagged for things is exhausting.
A great delight and desire for me is for my sons to want to be with me, to spend time in my presence, without asking for 'stuff'.
And my great desire as a daughter in God's house is to grow to seek His presence to the point that His 'presents' are not even in my view.
