Thoughts for the Day

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Small children often repeat specific words when they are learning to speak. First might come "What?" Everything you say can be met by "What?" until you want to scream if you hear the word again. It's obvious when you think about it, that the child needs you to continually repeat the word so that they can learn it and then use it. After this can come other questions, one of the more horrid is "Why?". Every answer you give is met by why until you get backed into a corner with no answer to give. These question soon change into demands. The "I want" one - "I want ketchup!" or "I want an ice-cream!" - never really disappears, and can continue into adulthood..

In our reading today, which comes after the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, we get this lovely section where Jesus instructs them to ask God. But there are a number of ways of asking, as we try to teach children. There is the "I want," version which can simply be for something we desire. Then there is the "I need" version where we seriously want some help. We should never mistake "I want" for "I need", and we should always expect God as our Heavenly Father to make the best decision for us.

Heavenly Father,
teach us to learn the difference
between "I want" and "I need",
and to ask Your help
knowing that it is freely offered.
Your Son has taught us that
You only want the best for us,
so may we trust You in everything.
Amen.