As always, I begin this post with a music quote,

Let Your living waters flow over my soul.

Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control of every situation that has troubled my mind. All my cares and burdens unto You I roll.

Father, Father, Father.

song by Vinesong – Let Your Living Waters

Is it not a wonderful phenomenon to just roll all your troubles unto another?

I witnessed something really wonderful today while manning the registration table at a Sunday School Teacher’s training workshop. I enjoyed the interaction between a dad and His little daughter.

Introducing, Pastor, the father, and Aseda (which means thanksgiving in Akan language), a pretty five-year old girl and his daughter.

Now mind you, I am actually writing this as I witness it. I’ll definitely edit, touch-up and do all the stuff we writers like to do with our write-ups later.

Aseda really wants to eat some popcorn Pastor has kept away in a transparent polythene bag on the registration table. Following her want, she goes to her father and demands the popcorn. But her father tells her, “No, not now”. Unfortunately for Pastor, his response does not meet with Aseda’s expectations. She insists and insists in her childlike mannerisms to have her popcorn. She even attempts to pick up the bag containing her treat. Yet still, Pastor pushes the bag away and replies as before that is it not time for Aseda to eat what she wants. When she manages to reach the bag again, He takes the bag away from her and sets it aside.

Now I am sitting here watching this classic play and thinking, “This is definitely going downhill from here.” And boy-o-boy I wasn’t off the mark.

I’m sure you must be guessing as I foresee, Aseda’s next reaction. The floodgates open and heaven pours down rain. And by heaven, I mean Aseda’s innocent eyes begin to shed pitiful tears. Roll after roll begins to fall. Have you ever heard how a child’s cries start from a low volume and then steadily rises to the peak pitch? Exactly that way is this child’s sad melody! The tears keep falling, all in hope that Pastor will respond and give her the popcorn she so desires. I can see that Pastor is moved by her tears. Nevertheless, he knows it is not the right time for Aseda to have her sweet popcorn.

What happens next, I love so much. Amidst her tears, he swoops in and carries her into his arms. He sits her on his laps, hugs her close and wipes away her tears. Then he whispers to her, [at this point, am I considered konkonsa (a gossip)for listening in?],  anyways, He whispered to her, “I will give you the popcorn as promised okay. Just not right now. Don’t cry anymore.”

Immediately, she believes him and stops crying. You must be thinking, “how did I know she believed him?” Well, she stopped crying. That’s how! Why did I say that out loud? lol. Anyway, let me continue the story. She quietly lies in his arms because she believes in her childlike heart that her father would not lie to her. He will surely fulfill his promise to her. This is a sigh and selah moment. Please pause and think.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:11 “If you earthly fathers who are evil give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

Many of us, and by us, I am referring to children of God, are crying for different things from our Heavenly Father. I could name a few but you know what it is you are crying for. As I sometimes wonder, and Aseda also wondered, you are perhaps wondering why our Father in heaven has not given you what you’ve asked for. Like Aseda, we sincerely believe that this is the time to eat our “popcorn”. Probably, we are convinced that we need it. Maybe we just want it. Yet we have not received it. However, what we need to understand and accept is that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us to eat at the right time. Remember, He wants to give good gifts to you. He will not withhold any good thing from you. However, just like Pastor, God is the one who determines “the good” for you.

You have done well to ask Him. Now is the time to trust in Him. Wait patiently for it. Stop crying, because His promises to you will not fail. His word is His bond. His love is your surety. He has said to you in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you. And I will show you marvelous things that you know not.” O ye of little faith. Have you not realized He’s comforting you at this moment, crooning in your ears and asking you to rest assured in Him? Can you not feel His loving embrace pouring forth from His grace? Pause. Listen. Believe.

Right this moment, Aseda is happily and joyfully playing in the sand with her friends. She believes she is going to be eating her popcorn in due time. As you would too.

Below is a YouTube video of the music quote above. Enjoy : )