ON OUR BEST BEHAVIOR!

As I've frequently mentioned, David loves to travel.  For some reason he is enamored with hotel rooms.  Later this week we are taking a small trip down to Tennessee where Rich has family.  David knows we are going (he will repeatedly pick up the hotel confirmation I have printed and laugh), and has been on his best behavior.  He's behaving so well because he knows if he's been good, the trip will be much more rewarding and enjoyable for him.  When he behaves, we will reward and let him pick out a cartoon DVD at Cracker Barrell or let him get a bag of chips at a gas station when we stop to fuel.  When he has been misbehaving, we do not reward his bad behavior and he isn't allowed any special treats.

As Christians, we are on a trip to Heaven.  We should be on our best behavior because there will be rewards for us if we do what we are supposed to do.  Our Heavenly Father is building a home for us, and I like to think that we can get upgrades to our heavenly home by how we behave on our trip home.  I want to reach my final destination and have lots of goodies to experience at the ultimate vacation spot.  So today, I am trying to be on my best behavior - how about you?

NEVER SATISFIED...

It's a normal Saturday in our home.  We woke up this morning and I made a big Saturday breakfast for all of us.  I made some cheese omelets, Jimmy Dean sausage and some microwave bacon.  Later on, I took David to Walgreens for his weekly treat of a magazine, bag of chips and bottle of diet soda.   After leaving Walgreens I stopped and picked up a little treat for all of us. 

As soon as we got in the van to go to Walgreens, David started using his sign language to ask for food.  He had just eaten a big breakfast, but he wanted more.  While in Walgreens David asked repeatedly to eat.  When we left Walgreens David was asking to eat.  When I left the little snack shop David was asking to eat.  When we got home and ate the snack, David was asking to eat.  David has been coming to us and asking to eat about every five minutes. 

David had a big breakfast, a snack and has a bag of chips and soda in his room, but he's not satisified.  He wants more.  I'll start cooking dinner in a few minutes, but David still won't be satisfied.  As soon as dinner is finished, David will ask to eat something else.  If we have some kind of dessert or after dinner snack, David will still be asking to eat.

David's not hungry, he's had plenty to eat.  Now, I understand that David has physiscal reasons for never being satiated, but a spiritual application can be made.  God gives and gives to us so much more than we need.  But how often do we overlook all we have and crave what God has not yet given to us.  We live in a society where contentment is not a fostered attitude.  Commercials are trying to convince us we need the newest and brightest of everything.  Our pride tells us we need to keep up with the Jones' next door.  Even in church we want to make sure we have a new dress on Easter because our friends will have a new dress on Easter Sunday.

There are times I look around our home and am amazed at all the STUFF we have.  Even our home is too much!  There are two rooms and a basement we don't even use except once or twice a year.  But those rooms are all furnished nicely.  There are pictures on the walls.  God has given me more than I need, but I can easily find myself wanting more.

Today, I am going to try to be content in whatsoever state I am.  God is good to me - it doesn't matter if I have the newest of anything.  If the dress I wear on Easter Sunday is several years old it doesn't matter.  Easter Sunday isn't about the dress I wear, it's about the resurrected Saviour who defeated death to give me life.  I want to be satisfied with God's goodness.  How about you?

LOOK AT HOW FAR WE'VE COME!

Our family recently returned from a much needed vacation to Disney World in Florida.  We think Disney is one of David's most favorite places in the world!  We've been talking about how far David has come in regards to traveling.  Growing up, our family finances were always strained and I can only remember one trip, although our family took two family vacations.  When I was about three and David five, our family went to Florida to visit some family and to Disney World.  I do not remember this trip at all.  When I was about ten and David twelve, we went to West Virginia to visit family friends.  That trip has stories all it's own.  So, needless to say, David was not used to traveling, and had never stayed in a hotel.

The very first "vacation" Rich and I took David on was to visit some friends in Kokomo, Indiana.  It was to be a simple, one-night stay in a hotel to see how he would do.   David really enjoys driving in the car, so the drive down was great.  David seemed excited when we went into our hotel room.  (David loves lying in bed and watching TV, and that's how hotel rooms are set up!)

We had been in the hotel room for about an hour when we started preparing to go meet our friends for dinner.  Everything was going smoothly until we left the hotel room without our luggage.  David went bonkers!  We think he was afraid he'd never see his shape-sorter toy again!  Thankfully our friends were so understanding about David's constant groaning, moaning and waving his arms.  When we returned to the hotel room, it was as if you could actually feel David's blood pressure dropping when he realized his toy was safe and sound!

Fast forward about twelve years.  We now travel at least yearly with David.  He lives for the next hotel stay.  David has learned how to finger spell Days Inn and Disney and will frequently ask us to spell those words with him to let us know he's ready for another trip.  We have taken David to Disney World several times, Disney Land, Boston, Knoxville numerous times, Branson, and even on a cruise.  David is a great traveler.

David still has to grow in his traveling skills.  Disney started a great service several years ago that's called Magical Express.  If you are staying in one of their hotels, they will pick you up at the airport and take care of all your luggage - you don't even have to get it at baggage claim.   The first time we used this service David was nervous because we were "leaving" our luggage behind.  This most recent trip, I don't think David even thought about our luggage!  He grows with each trip.  He's even learning how to "pose" for the TSA pat-downs.

So, you are probably wondering what spiritualy application this has for us.  Well, my answer is that there's always room for growth and improvement.  David was in his thirties when he started traveling with us.  He wasn't too old to learn new tricks.  In our Christian life, we don't have to settle or be satisfied with where we are or what we are doing.  We can stretch our minds and habits to accomodate opportunities for growth.  When growth is uncomfortable, we need to trust our spiritual leadership that the pain we endure will provide for better opportunities.  David would never be able to enjoy Disney if he hadn't learned to leave the suitcases in the hotel room. 

When God gives you a situation that seems too painful or difficult to endure, just remember there is a spiritual Disney World waiting for you!