Give Me A List

I handed my three year old an index card with a quantity, name and rough drawing of several items.

"What's this, Mommy?"

"Your shopping list. Can you help me at the store today?"

"Yes!" my three year old said.

I knelt next to her. "Okay - what's this?" I asked, pointing at the first four fruits.

"Apples," she replied. Whew - at least I can draw a recognizable apple!

We read the list, and she hesitated at the last item. "That's a strawberry snack," I explained.

"A strawberry snack? For me?" she turned and gave me a big smile.

"Yes, for you when we are all done with our shopping trip. I appreciate your help at the store." I said as I squeezed her little shoulders.

Up and down the aisles, she held her list and I held mine. For the first time in months we got through the store without several potty breaks, time outs, or please-everyone-stare-at-me tantrums.

The difference? You already know it - she had something to do! The Father who created us knows we want our Parent's attention and approval. We want a list so we know what to do.

Jesus had a conversation on this very topic with the people following Him.

Jesus said, “Don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

I admit, being told to believe sounds a little like telling a three year old to just pick out a few apples. Is that even a real "work"? What does that mean?

At the risk of redundancy, I believe it means believe. If my daughter had tried to grab and read my list at the store, we would have just spent the errand wrestling and struggling with one another.

Do Good - What does it mean to believe? Do a little research starting at BibleGateway.com and Dictionary.com.

We can't understand God's list. It's not written in language we can understand at this stage of development. Instead we believe and trust that we have all we need to successfully fulfill our purpose and find fulfillment in Him.

My list for today? You guessed it - believe. Actively, completely, I live my life choosing to believe Jesus is God's Son and that through Him I have life. I don't want to miss a moment of it, especially the strawberry snacks!