Why would you Fight over that?

I have mentioned a couple of times that I teach Sunday school at church every week.  This is for preschoolers.  It is a bit of a change of pace because I teach high schoolers during the week.  It has been a really great experience, and I have learned a lot about how to be a better teacher, even if it is for an age that is significantly younger than my usual demographic.  I have also learned from observing and reflecting on certain items that happen in preschool that I can apply to my own life.  

I do really love my kids and they are really kind and helpful, and they want to be good friends.  However, they are kids, so there are times things go awry.  For example, there was a time when two kids were fighting over a small toy of grapes.  Yes, you heard me, grapes.  It was a part of the new food toys and both of them wanted to “cook” with these grapes.  I had to talk to them about sharing and how we can make a compromise work in very basic terms.  After a few minutes, they were fine, and they had stopped fighting. They even learned to share and play together, even with the coveted grapes.  

I couldn’t help thinking, “Why in the world, would you fight over that?  Of all things, you would fight over toy grapes.” I wasn’t trying to think too harshly or badly of my kids, but really, what in the world? Grapes!  This made me realize that there are times in life that we can be like the kids fighting over grapes.  There are times when we as adults and people who have fully developed brains become incredibly upset for a long period of time for things that ultimately don’t matter. One example is the time I got really angry about breaking the mirror off of my car door.  Now, this is not necessarily great.  I obviously had to call someone, so that I could get it fixed. It did cost money, but really at the end of the day, it was not that big of a deal.  It was not something that I needed to throw a temper tantrum over, yet that was the exact thing that I did.  

I imagine there are times when God wants to look down and say the exact same thing that I wanted to when my preschoolers were fighting over grapes.  I have even looked back at the items in my life and been a bit perplexed and a bit embarrassed by the items I have been majorly upset over. One caveat I do want to mention is that it is good to feel emotions.  I am a person who experiences a lot of emotions and will definitely voice them.  I know what it is like to have a complete range of things to be upset over.  I would much rather feel the emotions and get past them than stuff in those emotions.  I think God would too, as it is much healthier. But do I always take these thoughts and emotions to God in a healthy way, or do I just let myself feel the emotions and feel sorry for myself? Sometimes we can choose to stew over these thoughts and emotions rather than bring them to the one who can fix everything, and that is not healthy or helpful at all.  

Getting back to the example in preschool Sunday school, instead of fighting and running after each other for the same toy, they could have come to a compromise amongst one another.  They could have talked it out and come to me, their teacher, for help in this situation.  Obviously, I know they are preschoolers, so this is a bit of a high expectation for them.  However, this can be a good example of what we should do with our Lord, our heavenly father.  When we start to look at the things in this world as more important than the Lord, we need to go to the Lord in prayer and even our emotions.  He wants to help us and work through everything.  Don’t hide away in anger or shame.  Bring them to the Lord, so they can be rectified.   

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  It is important to take those items in the world and realize that they will not last forever.  That trophy may break, the titles may be forgotten, the expensive items may be stolen or lose their value.  However, the Lord and the items that he has in heaven will never get old or broken.  This will always be there.  

In conclusion, we can learn a lot from kids.  They can be so innocent, forgiving, loving, and kind.  They also can be very reflective of our lives.  When they make mistakes that we may find ridiculous, it can be something good to reflect on for ourselves.  This may show us that we can act a certain way at certain times as well.  My goal for you this week is if you find yourself ever getting upset, whether this be with a co-worker disagreement, the copier breaking down at work, or hitting every stop light, to even the bigger items, to take those angers immediately to God.  He doesn’t want you to stew over those emotions.  He wants you to grow and to learn from them.