Tell the truth now . . . you know you’ve wanted it. You know you were too shy to ask for it, but you wanted it . . . the big piece . . . whether it was pie or cake or lasagne. Maybe it wasn’t the big piece, maybe you just wanted a second helping. I remember those days with fear; asking for the big piece was a no-no, and asking for more was unspeakable.
How many of us have learned to ask for the smaller portion when we’re asked which piece we want? How many of us have taught our children the same less-is-more attitude? Where etiquette is concerned, perhaps taking the smaller piece or completely denying oneself is the right thing to do, but when we take that attitude and begin to apply it to all areas of our lives, how much are we missing? What are we giving up?
I have to admit that I have been carrying along this attitude for far too long and it is most noticeable in my spiritual life. Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened,” (Matt.7:7-8). I have come to realize that I behave as if I think that God is stingy or that He is waiting to rap my knuckles if I ask for too much. Well, I know He isn’t stingy, but I’ve lost that bold and trusting, carefree attitude I.
Surely, as a friend, a spouse, or a parent, if you had a big piece and a little piece of pie to share wouldn’t it be your good pleasure to give the other person the big piece? Don’t you just love to bless others, to be extravagant? So, does God. The Bible is replete with examples of His generosity and we are repeatedly reminded that He is our Father in Heaven so why are we so reluctant to ask Him for what we need, or want? It’s because we don’t come with our requests with a child’s frame of mind. We’re afraid we’ll be scolded or rejected for asking, or are we frightened that we’ll be disappointed by the answer? To scold and reject a child simply for asking is not the character of God though there are times the answer has to be “no”. Rest assured – Father knows best. I think I’ll “uncheck” my childlike attitude.
“For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, ‘I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.’” Matt. 18:2 MSG.
