Shine, even when there’s spilled milk.

Today my son spilled his cereal and milk all over the dining room floor. I had just finished praying the Lord would give me wisdom to raise my children and the grace to do it in love and now, I saw I had an opportunity…

I told him to clean it up while his sister and I got ready for school.  Immediately he began to whine and complain–my flesh gets frustrated and cannot stand to hear whining and I begin to feel anger rise and I say another quick prayer…Lord help me please.  I know my son is to obey You because it pleases You, it’s not about me. Our faithful God hears my prayer and responds…

I gently ask my son to go to his room and I pray again to prepare my heart.  The verse that came to mind when I saw my son complaining was, ‘Do all things without grumbling and disputing…” I stop, pray once again and open the Bible to Philippians 2:14-18 and read the entire passage:

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.  You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. “

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

After I pray and read God’s Word, I’m ready for the Lord to use me to restore my son. I open the door and immediately I see the stars in his room and I ask him:

“How do the stars in your room light up?”

“The light needs to be on, and it needs to shine on them.”

“What happens when we turn the lights off?”

“They shine. The longer they are in the light, the brighter they shine.”

“Yes, who made the stars in the sky?”

“God“

“Who made you?”

“God“

Do you know you were made to shine for God?  Let me read to you from God’s word…I read Philippians 2:13-18 to him and I ask him questions to see his understanding:

“According to what I just read why should we not grumble or dispute (complain)?

“Because I am a child of God and I should be a light.”

Yes. My son, sometimes it’s hard for mommy to obey without grumbling too but mommy stops and prays and asks God to help her, through the power of His Holy Spirit that lives in me.  He will give you the grace to pick up one cheerio at a time. Do you want to pray and ask God for the grace to obey without complaining?”

“Yes“

We get on our knees and I take my firstborn to the throne of grace, and he is transformed by the renewing of his mind through the word of God…he is restored, smiling and eager to obey. Just. like. that.

Do you realize the more time we spend with God and our minds are fixed on Him, the brighter we will shine in the darkness? I pray you spend your time with Him seizing every opportunity to know Him more intimately, so you can shine…even when the milk spills.