Elise and the Bed

 

There is among the daughters of men a two-year-old girl whose name is Elise.  Now, Elise is a Precocious and Very Intelligent child.  I do not say this only because I am her father.

(Although I fully admit that I am biased).

One day it so passed that she desired to get upon the bed of her parents.  The sun was just past its noontide and Elise no longer taketh a Siesta, but rather she wished to Leap and even to Jump upon the bed.

Straightway she said in a voice of command.  “Shall she want to be up on the bed?!”

Several seconds went by without a response from Elise’s parents, or anyone else within our dwelling place.  Therefore, she said in a somewhat louder voice, “Shall she need to be up on the bed?!”

Unfortunately, once again Elise’s parents did not jump quickly to respond to her and so finally, she said in a very loud voice “UP!!”

At this word, Elise’s father lifted her up and set her upon the bed.

Now, perhaps there are fathers who only give their children exactly what they need and no more, but it pleases me greatly when I can give my children something they desire – even though it is not Absolutely Necessary for their Wellbeing.

It came to my memory verses from the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus said, “What man is there among you whom if his son ask for bread, will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent… How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

It seems to me that oft times we are afraid of asking for things, for fear that our Heavenly Father might think us selfish.  This, even though He knows both our wants and our needs and loves us in spite of them.

Shall He not also give good things to us, if we just ask Him?