Taberism #14 - Are we there yet?

Recently I purchased some Claeys old fashioned hard candies (www.claeyscandy.com). They come in different flavors and are shaped like lemon drops. These things are great and I learned that Taber loves them. Well he would eat any candy really but he especially likes these. In fact when I offer him one he will try and negotiate for 2 of them. Being a quick study I implemented an incentive program with Taber. Basically when he is good he gets a candy.  

One night while I was a single dad for a week (my wife was out of town) I was taken in by one of our friends and invited over. I told Taber that we were going to his friend Callens house for dinner and if he was a good boy between now and when we had to leave he could have a candy. Naturally my incentive program worked and he was an angel, halo and all. As we got into the car I thanked Taber for being a good listener and gave him his reward. As I handed it to him I told him that he could eat it to which he replied, “No Daddy! I have to wait to we get to Callens house.” As we were about to pull out of the garage Taber let out a scream as he had dropped his candy and could not find it. I promptly got out the car, found it, handed it back to him and again said that it was ok for him to eat it now. I jumped back into the driver seat and we were off.

Now I had only been to Callens daddy’s house once before and what should have taken us about 20 min took over 40. I wasn’t lost I just couldn’t find it. I didn’t pay much attention at the time but every time we pulled over to look at the map or turn around in a drive way or hang a “U-ee” on a road, Taber would emphatically ask if we were at Callens house.  Finally, by my keen sense of direction… and a phone call to Callens daddy, we arrived at our destination. As I opened Tabers door to get him out he looked up at me, with eyes of urgency, and said, “Is this Callens house daddy?” Yes I replied. And with a sigh of pure exhaustion he popped the candy into his mouth. I stood there speechless, staring at my son, who now had a smile of pure joy on his face and sweaty stick hands from holding his piece of candy for 40 min. For a moment I felt bad for unconsciously putting him through that.  On one hand I was proud that he had the patience and will power to hold out like that. On the other I thought, Son I gave you this candy 40 min ago and told you it was ok to eat it and yet you waited because you thought that you had to be somewhere specific before you could enjoy it.

I think that we are often like that with God when it comes to His promises.  We feel like we have to be a certain way or have been a Christian for so long or whatever the reason before we can enjoy His promises. Don’t let some mans tradition or religion steal what God has for you. God’s promises and inheritance for His children are certainly released through obedience, but they were available to you the moment you gave your life to Christ. Don’t be shackled to yesterday or weighted down with false illusions of tomorrow, but rise up today in who God said you are and walk in the fullness of all that God has given you.