Please, Daddy?

I sat lounging in my recliner watching a video with my boys when suddenly I was attacked by a soon-to-be two year old. At first she climbed up onto the outstretched foot stool, and then continued her assault by climbing up until she was seated firmly on my chest. With my view of the TV completely blocked, and sure that she was now the center of my attention, she completed her mission. She leaned over and with both of her little hands pulled my hand free from behind my head. Finally, she firmly pushed her empty cup into the now free hand and looking squarely into my eyes and said, “Drink, Please.”

As I sat up from the chair and walked into the kitchen to fulfill her desire, I was reminded of the many times God used children to explain Kingdom principles. As I refilled her cup, I realized my daughter had just reminded me of a few.

As I sat with my boys watching the video with them, my daughter had several methods she could have used to ask for what she wanted. However, she wanted to be sure and leave no doubt in her little mind that I had heard and that I understood.

She climbed her way, jostling and pushing me around until she sat squarely on my chest, just inches from my face. Knowing that she now had my complete attention I expected her to make petition known, but she didn’t. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t ask for a thing. Instead she reached for my hand.

Words weren’t able to satisfy her need. Only Daddy’s hand was able to fill her cup, and only if the cup was in Daddy’s hand could she know her desire would be satisfied. She used her little body to wrestle my hand from what it was doing, and placed her need firmly in its grasp.

Then with her need firmly in Daddy’s grip, she offered her petition. “Please Daddy?”

Some prayers can be offered from across the room, but for the desires that truly matter, we must learn from my daughter. We must climb into Daddy’s chair, and force ourselves to where He can’t help but see us. Then we must wrestle His hand from whatever it is doing and firmly push our need into His palm. Then, with the sweetest voice and bat of the eye, we can offer our words, “Please Daddy?”