Well, the day has arrived. A day I knew was coming. A day that visits every child in every home in every country in all the world. A day that has haunted me as a parent.
We were sitting in the floor of the living room playing with a puzzle. I was trying to help, but not too much. I reached out to pick up a piece, but she beat me to it. "This is mine," she said, as she clutched it to her chest.
SSSCCRRREEEEEEEEECCCHHHHH...What?!?!?!
"This is mine," she said again, as though she could read the mangled expression on my face.
I've been trying to figure out why I have such a strong distaste for these words for a while now. All I've come up with so far is the fact that usually these words are offered from a very selfish position of the heart, "This is mine, and you can't have it."
I'm still working on this one, but I definitely wasn't ready to hear those words coming from her little lips.
it's official... I am addicted to your blog- please don't think me a stalker. Reading this I think that perhaps your distaste comes from a biblical point of view. This is the beginning of the feeling of entitlement to everything we have. We walk around everyday laying claim to everything that is "mine" our clothes, our cars, our houses, our jewerley, our jobs, our phones, computers and ipods... everything is a testament to show everyone else that "this is mine." We are selfish in our time, money and possessions when actuality the statement "this is mine" is the greatest lie we tell ourselves. In truth NOTHING is mine rather it is all God's. It is his to give and it is his to take. In fact the only thing that we can honestly clain with the statement "this is mine" is Jesus Christ himeself and then thankfully accept all the other gifts He graciously shares with us. Praise God that he accepts and loves us even in our selfishness!
ReplyDeleteLove you Girlie- Erin
You've definitely pegged it! This is a very valuable lesson (for me!) that I won't forget. Thank you for your insight and wisdom into this one...
ReplyDeleteOh yes! Now the life-long lesson of giving and sharing begins. In Matthew 3:17, God the Father said "This is MY Son, in whom I am well pleased..." then we learn His heart in John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He GAVE HIS only Son..." E has learned the first part "mine"...now you get to say, "Yes daughter, it's yours. What are you going to do with it?" I'm loving your blog! It's like a life-lesson devotional every time.
ReplyDeleteHahaaa........yes, I remember thinking that I was going to have the most selfish child ever when Kate first begin to say that. It almost made my stomach hurt. But now on baby number 3, who is beginning to show the same signs, and number 1 who is now learning to love and share, I just smile and know that it is just one of those stages! Bring Eli over, she and Claire can say it together.;)
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