photo“You have a new…..(we paused for effect) SISTER!” We announced the news to our five children on speakerphone, who were waiting all day to hear whether the boys would outnumber the girls, or we would be evened out. Their end of the line erupted in yelling, whooping and just plain exuberance as they rejoiced at the knowledge of a new girl being added to our family. It was a fun moment I will remember forever!

One of our children, however, was not happy with the news, and, as we found out later, in the same moment everyone else was responding with joy, he was running into another room, away from the excitement, to be upset that he didn’t ‘get what he wanted’. You see, while the rest of us were hoping for a girl, he wanted a boy.

So often I am just like him! “God, why are you giving me this?” “Didn’t you hear me; I asked you to do it this way, and you chose another way instead!?” “Surely I know what would be best for me here, and you’re not giving it to me!”  Can you relate to any of these questions?

A verse we are discussing a lot in our home right now is Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.”  When one of the children begins to grumble or question, we will remind them that God doesn’t allow an exception here. We might ask the children, “Does it say, ‘Do all things, unless it tastes yucky or is hard to do, without grumbling or questioning’?”The answer is, “No, do ALL things!” I want to make it very clear here that this instruction cannot be brought by itself, but must be clearly accompanied by the gospel, or it becomes self-centered and moralistic.  How can we do ALL things without grumbling or questioning?  True, in our fallen state as sinners, we cannot obey this fully, but we can look to Jesus, who did do it perfectly.  In Luke 22:42, Jesus, aware of what He was being called to do, prayed to His Father, “saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ ”  Jesus’ humble submission to His Father, and subsequent sacrifice for us, His enemies, can affect our hearts and encourage our obedience!

A few days ago, I asked our son if he loved his sister and was glad now that we have another girl.  His response, although needing to be addressed in its own way, made me laugh, as he said, “Well, Mama, you see, I like girls when they’re babies, it’s when they get older that I don’t like them anymore!”  Kurt and I will have to remind him of that one in a few years!!!