Peedah Budda eh Jettie

It has been a long month or better since I posted anything of consequence. Well, except for the picture of Josh. Isn't he a masterpiece? I've been teaching a course online for a great university--Marylhurst University in Marylhurst, Oregon, about 10 miles south of Portland. I teach Nonprofit Leadership for Marylhurst, and I really enjoy teaching the students there. But I am really busy when I teach this course, so I didn't blog during the Winter term. Now the term is completed, and I want to return to "knocking." I have one more example (doesn't that sound like a teacher!) of what could constitute as "knocking" in the sense of perseverance.

Years ago, I had a friend who had a 2-year-old little boy who was just learning to talk. He was a strong-willed boy whose persistence and determination would put me to shame. This little boy loved peanut butter and jelly. He was just learning to talk, and called his favorite food "peedah budda eh jettie."

One day his Mom was taking a shower, and Dad was watching the boy. Dad, however, was not an acceptable peanut butter and jelly maker, so the boy began to knock on the bathroom door: "Mama, peedah budda eh jettie." "Peedah budda eh jettie, Mama."

Mom cannot hear him of course, nor was she in a position to answer his request right then. So the boy kept up the knocking, this time a little louder:

"PEEDAH BUDDA EH JETTIE. PEEDAH BUDDA EH JETTIE."

No response. Dad allowed him to persist just to see how long he would keep up the knocking.

"Pee dah bud da eh jettie, Mama!"

"PEEEEE DAHHHH BUDDAAAA EH JETTIEEEEEEE."

By this time, the boy is on the floor talking under the crack at the bottom of the door. Oh and the child is becoming frustrated. He cried, "Peedah (Sniff Sniff) Budda (Wail Wail) Eh Jettie (Sob Sob).

No response. So he moved on toward anger, pounding the floor and not the door. This is where Dad stepped in.

Isn't it awesome when Dad steps in? Because there is a place where perseverence can turn to demanding, and demanding falls into the category of self-control, you know a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Our 2-year-old friend didn't understand self-control, so Dad became his self-control for him.

Dad's message to the child was simple: "Ask nice." Mama will come out soon and make you peedah budda eh jettie, but you have to ask nice."

Nonetheless, the little guy's perseverence was evident. His is a story not unlike the Bible's story of the man who needed bread. Knock and keep on knocking. Don't stop knocking on the door for the spiritual and material things you need.

Need more of God's presence? Knock. "Lord, please be more real to me."

Need rent money? Knock. "Lord, I ask you to provide for me here."

Have a 2-year-old? Knock and knock and knock. "Lord, please help me teach him your ways."

For my little friend, it eventually happened: Mama opened the bathroom door, scooped up the little guy into her arms, and with a big hug made her way to the kitchen cupboard.

That is God's desire for us. He is faithful to open the door, He hears our desires, and He shows us His love. Even when we don't ask nice.

Sweet Baby: God's Masterpiece

My first picture has to be of Joshua, Lynn and Mike's sweet little guy.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9