Intentions

This little fella had some big ol’ intentions.

He spotted the largest of all the containers in the play area and worked hard to pick it up.  With his high hopes, he tilted, poured and emptied the entire contents onto the middle of the floor.  It took him no time to size up the heap before he swiped, scrambled, and spread the pieces outside of his reach.   Before you can say Duplex Legos he lost heart.

Someone who does not understand the concept of time and feeling it insurmountable when asked to pick them up says, “No, I’m going to let it stay there 45 minutes.”

Someone who does understand the concept of time knew he had no intention of ever doing so.

This little side-stepper had put me off before with a discarded mess. One Thursday he wanted me to wait until “Monsday.”

Are you familiar with this little toddler timetable?

I know it well.

I too have all these well-meaning intentions collected.  I let them get all piled up in a heap. I allow apprehension to set in and change my mind.  Then before you can say hopes and aspirations,  I’ve lost heart.

Feelings of inadequacies can make the toddler timetable feel very comfortable.

Begin.  Hesitate.  Wait.  Doubt.  Quit.  Repeat.

We’re not alone here.  One of God’s main men Moses began in a similar fashion.  Except he never quit.

Moses didn’t think he was adequate. He even had a past history that could prove this true.  And yet, he never quit.  Moses was about to embark on the biggest assignment of his life.  There was a wilderness to navigate and a mountain to climb.  And yet, he never quit.  He was many years in as a leader to 12 grumbling, complaining and criticizing tribes of people.  God used him until the age of 120.  He just never quit.

The Lord said, “Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see?  Is it not I, the Lord…You’ll be able to tell wonderful stories to your grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing.”

Let’s take heart, little fella.  He does this in spite of our weaknesses not the absence of them.

There are marvelous things He is doing.

Let’s not quit.

Exodus 4:11, 10:2