A Bike is Better Than Candy

My three-year-old daughter, Macie, is now riding a bike. Sure it has training wheels, but it’s a big girl bike for sure. Watching her race up and down the street has become an evening ritual in our home. She joins a pack of little helmet-clad girls riding a wave of pink burning up the pavement.

About a month ago (pre big-girl bike), I wanted to reward Macie for being such a wonderful big sister. She has taken to her little sister better than we ever imagined. As we were getting ready for church, I decided that on our way home we would stop and let Macie pick out a real bike. I knew hours before it happened what that afternoon was going to bring for her. As she began to fuss about getting dressed, I told her we were going to do something special that afternoon and that she better stop fussing and make sure she acted like a big girl.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I was more excited than she was because she didn’t yet know what we were going to get. I felt like I was the one getting a gift as we headed back to the bike area. Standing in front of a bike rack stocked fully to the ceiling with various sizes and colors of two wheeled vehicles, I asked Macie if there was anything that she would like as a special treat. Here’s what she said: “I would really love something to chunk on,” which is her way of asking for candy. Candy?

It took a bit of conversation to persuade her that what I was offering her was greater than what she was requesting. When Macie finally gave up on the candy and realized I wanted to get her a bike, she was glued to the seat. She rode it around the store as we grabbed a few things. When we got home, she was ready to fly around and show it off.

God really opened my eyes to several things that day. The first is that He knows what my afternoons are going to look like before I do, and He is constantly preparing me for what’s next. Macie didn’t know she would be getting a bike that afternoon, but I did. So I didn’t want her to get in trouble and change those plans. I’m learning that my Heavenly Father is preparing me in much the same way.

I also learned that my Father often holds His hands out offering me greater things than I can comprehend, yet I stand before Him asking for candy. I settle for less too often and don’t dream big enough. The Creator of the universe is my Father; why settle for candy?

I also realized that God loves. That’s what a father does above everything else. God desires the best for us. He doesn’t bring things into our lives to hurt us, but to draw us closer to Him.

This week, we begin examining the Trinity by focusing on the Father. I don’t know what your experience with your earthly father has been like, but I do know what your experience with your Heavenly Father is supposed to be like. Spend some time thinking about God as a Father and you as a child. How does a good father respond to a child? What happens when a child is hurt? Crying? Succeeding? And then think of what that would like perfected. Imagine God as the perfect Father, and when He decides to bless you, ask for the bike, not just the candy.