Car Keys & Angry Babies

To My Readers:

One thing you should know about my boss Stuart, is that his daughter is the most joyful baby I have ever seen. She is always smiling and super funny. Savannah is precious and if you asked anyone at two42 at CBC, they would agree she is always cheerful. Recently, CBC had their volunteer banquet where the staff serves the volunteers, which truly have done so much for the church over the last year. CBC brought in Christian comedian, John Acuff, to speak to our volunteers and while he was speaking we had the occasional baby scream and parent walking out. At one point, I did what every person fights not to do. As I heard the baby scream, I turned and looked to see what baby was making such a ruckus. As I did this I noticed that Stuart was walking out of the sanctuary, Savannah in hand.

Today I was talking with Stuart and asked about Savannah, having heard she hadn’t been feeling well lately. He laughed and responded, “No. What actually happened was that she was playing with car keys and I took them away. She got angry. Its amazing that at ten months they already have an attitude.”

I laughed it over, but it continued to lull over in my mind. I couldn’t get this realization out of my head. The keys belonged to Stuart. They were his keys. He just allowed for her to play with them for a time and that time was up. Savannah only knowing, she had keys to play with and now she doesn’t because of Dad, got upset. I’m sure she thought something along the lines of, “Hey! What do you think you’re doing? I was playing with those. Those are my keys!” Ultimately, the keys belong to her father. He could choose what to do with them, as he wanted. Then it hit me. I am just like Savannah.

How many times has God given me something for a time and I instantly thought of it as mine? How many times when the time God decided to take that, did I get upset and throw a temper tantrum? Don’t we all do this with things on a daily basis? We can read in the Scriptures God saying, “…for all the world is mine and everything in it.” (Psalm 50:12, NLT). It all belongs to Him, ultimately the decision what to do with it is His. Yet, when He gives us something we thank Him. However, when He takes it away, we get angry.

In the scriptures there is a man named Job. This guy had it all, a large home, great wealth, huge family. However, when the world comes tumbling down and he loses everything from his children to his health, Job’s first reaction isn’t anger. It’s praise. Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
 The Lord gave me what I had,
 and the Lord has taken it away.
 Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (Job 1:20-22, NLT). When was the last time we fell in worship while mourning? Being authentic enough to not hide our shame and distress. There was no hiding the shaved head and torn clothes. People knew Job was mourning and yet, Job still praised God.

What have we been holding onto too tightly? What do we need to let go of? How can we remind ourselves ultimately everything belongs to God?

Simply,
Tex G.M. Rule

"If I was hungry or thirsty I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it." Psalm 50:12, NLT