more chicken!!!
Eating dinner with a toddler is never uneventful. And usually, I love it. Z keeps us laughing, singing, cleaning up messes (that's the part that's harder to love sometimes)... and reminding us of the many ways we're still like toddlers at heart.
A few nights ago, however, his hankering to ask for "more chicken!!" before he was done with what was already on his plate (which was quite a bit) had us feeling somewhat irritated. Though he had a plate full of freshly smoked chicken (thanks, Mitchell :)) cut to the perfect bite-sized pieces... it didn't seem to be enough.
"Eat what you have on your plate! You have some right here!" We'd say.
But the asks kept coming: more salt... more ketchup... more chicken. "Moorrrre!!" He'd say emphatically, while also reaching his little arm as far towards the serving dish as possible, slapping his adorably chunky toddler fingers down on the table. I can't blame him for enjoying his Dad's smoked chicken (and yes, he takes after me in that ketchup could be a food group). But we assured him that these were not appropriate table manners, even for a toddler.
It got to the point where our irritation (and our constant reminding him of the food he had on his plate) simply turned to laughter. Playfully redirecting him as we played around with his fork, we continued encouraging him to be content in just eating the chicken (and ketchup... and salt...) he already had.
And then, it dawned on me: How often do I do the exact same thing to God?
How often do I ask God for more when I've got a full plate in front of me? How often do I overlook what's been carefully set before me and get caught up in wanting "more!!!"?
God has given me so much nourishment and so many blessings... and it's all right in front of me -- readily available. Prepared for me. Just like dinner was prepared for Zion: out of love, with the goal of keeping him healthy, happy, and well-nourished...
God wants to do the same for me. And yet, all too often, I just stretch out my arm and whine... sometimes even slapping my own fingers on the "table."
"MORE CHICKEN!!!!!!!!!" I say, in my own sinful way.
Why is it so easy to fail to appreciate how much is STILL on my plate (often even cut to the "perfect, bite-sized pieces")? Why is my tendency to overlook the blessing that's here and just want more "condiments" in life?
I shared these thoughts with Mitchell at the dinner table... and he added, "and how often do I just try and get it myself instead of even asking for it!?"
Spot on.
Good thing Z was strapped into his booster seat. Otherwise, his reach may have gotten him in trouble. He'd either grab too much, grab the knife he shouldn't have... etc.
And to Mitchell's point, we've got to keep ourselves strapped in.
Sitting at dinner with a toddler, we realized that we need to put on our spiritual "booster seats," and work on our spiritual "table manners."
We need to stop being discontent with what's on our plates. We need to sit and eat. To open our eyes to what is right in front of us. To taste, and to see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), despite whatever "more" we think he ought to give us. We deserve no more. And, we need no more. He himself is enough for us, and his abundant gifts should never leave us asking for more.
So in things as simple as sitting at the dinner table, may we do them to the glory of God, remembering that He meets our needs more fully than we could ever ask for.
Enjoy the chicken that is already on your plate. If you need more, God is an abundant giver, and he promises we won't go hungry when we're satisfied in Him. Stop asking for more chicken.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8
