Since his cleft lip surgery, my little grandson, Ethan, has to wear splints on his arms to keep him from touching his mouth. They come off only when he has a bath or his clothes are changed. He's also being fed through a syringe. Unlike the bottle, the small syringe requires two to three pauses to refill. As you can imagine, he gets pretty frustrated--downright mad--about these inconveniences that are beyond his understanding. You might be amused to know that I tried showing him the syringe plunger pulling in the formula, hoping he'd get the picture and say to himself, "Oh well, my food is coming and everything's okay." After all, he's very smart.
Watching Ethan get so upset about the temporary trials that we know are ultimately for his good, I couldn't help but think about my own conduct when things are "going wrong" in my life. Do I trust that it's all working together for good, or do I scream at God for immediate relief? I want to be a spiritual grownup, to cultivate a keener awareness that in all things, my Father knows what's best for me.
What a precious little boy, Rhetta. It must have been hard on him, and all those who love him. But you are absolutely right about temporary struggles. I, too, desire to be a spiritual grown-up... though, I fail miserably at times. God is in control, and has our own good at heart. How humbling... : ) Melissa
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