Monday, February 13, 2012

I don't want to

I have a toddler. He does toddler-hood as well as the best of them, including the I-know-what-I'm-supposed-to-do-but-I-want-to-assert-my-independence episodes. The most prevalent presentation of his willfulness right now is his response when I tell him we're going to do something.

For example, today we were on the way home when the following conversation ensued:

Weslee: Mama, where are we going?

Me: We're going home.

Weslee: I don't want to!

Me: Why don't you want to go home? Home is fun! We can go and play!

Weslee: I don't want to!

Me: Well, we're going to.

Do you ever feel like having that toddler independence attitude? I know that sometimes I start my day out like that- the alarm rings, and I know I need to get up, but "I don't want to!" Or, I need to clean and do chores, but the toddler in me protests, "I don't want to!"

Not only does it happen in my everyday life- it also happens in my spiritual walk. I know what I should do, but "I don't want to!" Pray, read my Bible, work on my marriage, fellowship with others, help the needy.... some days, "I don't want to!"

I am so thankful that I have a God who knew what I was going to be like, who sent Jesus to die on the cross for every one of those sinful and rebellious thoughts before I even existed. Then I think: who am I to tell the Creator of the universe "I don't want to!" like a child throwing a tantrum, when He has done so much for me?

Maybe we all need to be our own adult voice now and then, and when we have those thoughts, tell ourselves, "Well, you're going to!"