I want to ride the cars! (Insert whine here)

I have a temporary brother right now. His name is Christian and he’s 3 years old.

He went with my parent’s to a little fair in town and got to ride tons of rides the other day. When I got there he and my 3 little sisters were having so much fun and had the biggest smiles on their faces.

We had time to ride one more ride. It was a hard decision, but it had to be done.

We went with the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Best ride ever, hands down.

All 4 kids plus 2 of us big kids got to enjoy this wonderful ride. I was with Priscilla (5) and Olivia (2), screaming and laughing the whole time. I felt pretty accomplished getting so many great spins…ahhh, nothing like it.

When the ride was over, we all knew it was time to go.

As we were walking to the car, we were almost home free, but not before Christian spotted an alluring ride. It was the cars.

The sparkly cars that go around in a circle. He couldn’t get it off his mind. He kept asking to ride it, cried over it, threw a fit…he just knew that ride would be all he ever wanted and more!

Needless to say, he ruined his own day because all he could think about was not getting to ride the car ride.

I think we do that with God too.

I do that.

I whine, pout, throw a fit and complain about not getting what I really wanted.

Sure, I got to do tons of other fun things and was blessed so much, but that’s not the point.

I want to ride the car ride! I want that job! I want that opportunity! I want that guy! I want that house!

I wonder how many days or moments I’ve ruined because I was so focused on what I didn’t get.

Too many, I’m sure.

I’m not a little 3 year old; I have no excuse! I know God’s plans are bigger and better than anything I might want for myself. That’s always been true.

I've got to stop looking at that car ride I think is going to be so much fun- besides, it's almost always not what I really wanted.

You've seen that car ride...it just goes around in a circle. Whoop-dee-do.

I'm choosing to focus on the things God is doing around me, in me, through me, and the amazing things to come!


What things cause you to be ungrateful for what God has done or is doing in your life? What is your "Car Ride" that distracts you?