Through the eyes of a little girl

I've lost count of how many times God has used one of the children at the daycare to show me that I'm acting childish. When he does, the event is very eye-opening. Let me tell you about one of these moments, which happened about a week ago during center time. How center time works is that the main teacher will explain the different crafts/games at each table and then, one by one, the kids get to choose a place to start. On this particular day, one of the centers was finishing a project they'd begun the day before. They had painted one side of two plates stapled together (large ornaments) and needed to paint the other side.
One little girl had missed the day before, so we decided she'd have to wait until most had finished their ornaments before we'd let her start one. Well, of course that was the center she wanted to be at. She went up to me and said, "I want to paint." I told her she had to wait. She heard me, but she didn't care. She just kept asking, then started crying. Others kids were painting now. Why couldn't she? I was able to distract her with the rice table for a while, but soon enough she started whining about painting again. Finally, when the last three kids were working on their ornaments, she was able to begin hers.
About mid scenario, God told me to pay attention. This little girl wanted something and she wanted it right then. We had reasons to say no and wait, but she didn't understand them. She saw that others were allowed to paint and simply wanted to be doing it too. Welcome to how I've been treating God about having a baby. I want one and I want one NOW. Everyone else has children. Why can't I?? God was showing me that he has his reasons, and I don't have to understand them. Thank God that he puts so many infertility stories in his word: Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, REBEKAH (hmmm). He knew this issue would be hard to deal with and would need lots of comfort and hope.
God is really awesome, because he took me a step further. Last Sunday, our pastor gave a terrific sermon. Within the message, he taught on the biblical principle of being persistent. The words in Mathew 7:7 actually mean, "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for..." (I love the NLT because it's goal is to have the reader understand each verse like a reader during the Bible times would have) Also, he mentioned the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18). God whispered to me and told me it was okay to ask for a child even if I was unsure that God wanted me to have one. He wanted me to ask.

When I was telling my friend about the little girl and what she'd taught me, another truth dawned on me. If the girl had only asked once or twice and then contently played with rice for the rest of center time, we might have just skipped her altogether. But because she asked over and over again, we made sure she had painting time.
If you too are struggling with waiting for a reply to a request, take comfort in the second verse of one of my favorite Hymns, Have Faith in God:
Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered,
Your earnest plea He will never forget;
Wait on the lord, trust His word and be patient,
Have faith in God. He'll answer yet.
This song helps too...
Francesca Battistelli--I'm letting go