5 West Nursing

My son and I were going through toys in the toy section of the local Walmart while doing the groceries, when we came across are “really cool toy”. It was really cool. I can tell he wanted it bad. “Daddy, I want that for Christmas” he said, and like any good father would do I took a mental note of it. Of course, just like any good father would do, I checked out the most important thing… No, not the safety alert (of course this is always important), I’m talking about that small square box with the dollar sign on it.

Eighty (80) dollars? Yep… this was a really cool toy for a 6 year old. $80… that’s a half week’s worth of groceries (well, 2 days worth for a family of 6 like mine). Inasmuch as I’d like to give him that opportunity of owning a “really cool toy”, I have 4 other people to consider (my 3 girls, and my wife). “Ok, we’ll see”, I said with a smile, hoping he’d forget about it come Christmas (which I doubt).

As we headed home my mind wandered to when I was about his age. I remember that one day, around the same time of the year my family went to the local fair where there was a whole line of street vendors in little tents with all sorts of toys and Christmas goodies. I remember going down the street with my dad, looking at the “really cool toys”. Then I saw it, what I’ve been dreaming of… a remote controlled airplane! Wow… this was a “really cool toy”. I told my dad, “I want that for Christmas ok?”. “We’ll see” he said with a smile.

Christmas came and I was expecting my little remote controlled airplane. I got a plane… but not a remote controlled one. Although disappointed, I was glad I got a plane. Then I told myself, “when I become a dad, I’ll get my kids the ‘really cool toys’ for Christmas.” Sad, because history is repeating itself. I’m sure my parent would like to get us those things, you know, the “really cool toys”. But as kids we didn’t realize that they had some financial struggles too. We we’re born rich. We wore shoes until they had holes, not like some of my classmates who changed shoes almost every month. I’m sure we could have gotten what we wanted if my parents had the money. I didn’t want to disappoint my boy… he’s going to be six only once. I guess we can’t always get what we want… maybe someday he’d understand. Just like I understand my parents today.

Although disappointed, I’m glad I did not always get what I wanted, or else I would have ended up a spoiled little brat. I’m sure as parents, we want to give our kids all the best… all the “really cool toys”. Despite that, we can’t always get what we want, and in the same token, we can’t always give them what they want.

This reminds me of my Heavenly Father. I’m sure we’ve ask God for things in our life that we want… a new house, a new car, that long deserved promotion, thinking it will make us happier and be more comfortable. The truth is, He knows what’s best for us, and He knows when we’re ready for it.

Maybe we haven’t showed Him that we are ready to handle a bigger house (can hardly keep it clean). Maybe with the way we drive, He sees that we’re not ready for that fancy car (road rage). Maybe we’d use that promotion to get back at a pesky co-worker (power trip).  Or just maybe,  if we got what we wanted, we’d forget about Him and make matters worse for us.

I know I’d like to get my son that “really cool toy”. But the question is, “does he need it?” and “Is he ready for it?”. I guess the only answer to that is, “we’ll see!”