Gimme, God, Gimme!

            My grandma told me a little story today. It went somewhere along the lines of this (I adapted it as a writer because…well, I can!)

            There was once this young boy. His parents gave him everything his heart desired. As he grew up, his parents continued giving him absolutely everything just to make him happy, in the hopes that someday their son would be grateful for all that had been given to him. When he was full grown, however, he left his home and never came back.

Why? Because as a boy, he got everything he wanted, but as a man, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. All of a sudden, everything his parents gave him wasn’t enough and he left in search of more. He never once said thank you to his parents because he never understood how to be grateful. His parents waited for his return in sadness for the rest of their lives.

            After my grandma finished her story, she brought it into perspective.

            “That’s what it’s like with God and us,” she told me (albeit, in Spanish). “We always want God to give us everything we pray for and we don’t understand why He doesn’t sometimes. My story, that’s why. God doesn’t give us everything because He doesn’t want us to become like that little boy.”

            I completely agree with my grandma and her point, but I want to expand on it a little. It’s true; God doesn’t give us everything for a reason. Sometimes it’s because it’s not right for us. Sometimes it’s because He has something better planned for later. There are several reasons.

            It all boils down to this, though: trust.

            As so much else does, it’s all about trusting God. I think it’s important to learn to trust that God is giving us just what is right for us. Not more, not less. Sometimes we hold on to what He has already given us and don’t make space for what He has in store. But if we just trust Him, trust He will give us what we need instead of just all we want, that’s when I think we’re letting God truly take care of us.

            So, instead of acting like a little spoiled kid with a tired parent in a supermarket, grabbing at everything in sight, saying, “Gimme, gimme!” I think I’d rather just trust my parent to pick out what’s best for me.

            God just might surprise me more that way.