Tail End of the Puppy
Baby Girl,
You’re out of line on that weed whip. This is a good time for you to sit in the shade of this garage so we can talk.
You have “repented” too many times for your attitude about this traveling sports team you signed up for your daughter to participate in this summer. You apologize over and over for your bad attitude and then you rehash all of the reasons why you have a bad attitude with your friends who ask what you’re looking forward to this summer.
Poison.
You are not repenting. You’re essentially asking Me to give you an attitude adjustment and, trust Me, it’s a lot easier on both of us when you correct your own attitude without My intervention.
What happened to the awareness you had three weeks ago when you signed her up that I am providing for this financially and that there was a divine purpose behind her participation? You didn’t know what that purpose was but you were aware in your heart that it was with My blessing that you were signing her up. You signed up with the understanding that she would be on the same team as her friend who planned to do all of the traveling with you.
You were both unaware that, because the girls are in different graduating classes, they would be assigned to different teams that don’t even attend practices on the same days or tournaments in the same cities.
If you had understood that her friend would have ended up on a different team and they would not be traveling and playing together, you may have decided to just wait until next year when they would be on the same team. Now, her dad is obligated to take her to her tournaments and this will be a pivotal opportunity for him to connect with his daughter in a way she desperately needs right now.
You’re crying.
You thought you had it all figured out and the fact that they won’t be playing together, which was My primary desire, was one of the main reasons you have been mentally kicking against this schedule. You feel like you inconvenienced her dad by encouraging him to sign her up with the assurance that she could travel with you - but I need her to spend this time with him.
When you have peace about making a decision, do not go against that peace by mentally reasoning through the merits for or against the decision.
When you need a new car, you shop around. You weigh the pros and cons of all the different cars but, when you sign the financing and drive off the lot with that vehicle, it’s time to LOVE it! It’s time to be unconditionally grateful for it and it is time to stop weighing the pros and cons of ownership.
This is true of most decisions you will make in your life. When you buy a house, you don’t sit down between opening boxes, scrolling through realty websites, seeing what else is out there. You’ve made your decision - now make it your home.
Your daughter is on this team. What a delight! What a gift! How many children would give their right arm for this opportunity and your daughter doesn’t even have to be concerned with how you will financially make it happen.
I hear you reprimanding yourself, mentally shaming yourself for making it about the money and about your time. I hear you labeling yourself as selfish and self-centered for thinking about how much it is costing you in hours of work, time away from home, responsibilities you will have to let go by the wayside, arrangements you’ll have to make for others to take care of your house, pool and pets…
STOP.
Shame says there’s something wrong with you and guilt says there’s something wrong with your process. There is nothing wrong with weighing all of that out to make your decision. To come to this significant of a commitment, all of those things should be considered and weighed.
Where you have missed the mark (yes, it’s sin) has been continuing to consider these things after the decision was made.
Between travel for the team and the 18 days you will spend with family in California, you will be gone more than half of the next two months. You’re looking at a gift I am giving you like looking at the tail end of a puppy.
You’re laughing. That’s My girl!
If I was to give you a puppy, which I won’t… I know you don’t want another pet… it’s a metaphor, a parable, a word picture... just stick with Me…
If I was to give you an adorable puppy and you held it up backwards staring at its tail end, it doesn’t look like a good gift. You’re looking at it all wrong. Turn it around and see that adorable little face with those loving eyes looking at you as though you’re the best thing it’s ever seen. As you smile, its little tail wags so fast you’d think it would fall right off.
When you get a gift, if all you’re seeing is a tail end, turn it around and look it in the eyes!
I am giving you more than a month where you CANNOT fix anything that’s broken around your house, weed the garden, feed the animals, or check the pool chemicals.
I am giving you a month to delight in your family. I am giving you a month to look your family in the eyes, go for hikes, watch sporting games, go out to eat, go to the movies, boogie board, window shop, and play without the conflict of having chosen fun over responsibilities.
Do not poison the puppy with worry.
The next two months are a gift I am giving you. Think of the weeks at home between trips as dinner and the weekends as dessert. Delight in them.
You’ve asked me dozens of times about whether or not I want you to bring your laptop and, specifically, if you can work on editing these letters during your travels.
I have an answer for you but until you truly find the unmixed, joyful anticipation for these upcoming trips, you won’t be prepared to honor My heart about this project.
Back to work.
LOVE,
Daddy
Romans 8:28