Birthday Disappointment?

I certainly don't believe kids should always get everything they want. If Asher asks for a shot gun when he is 7, or a motorcycle when he is 16, or even a dog next year, I doubt I will rush to fulfill those desires.

But today he will experience for the first time not getting the birthday gift he has faithfully asked for. Every time we've mentioned Asher's birthday, he talks about getting a "ding" clock. He insists he wants a clock just like the one we regularly stop to watch at the library that faithfully dings at the 3, 6, 9, and 12. The spot in his room is even all picked out for this "big" clock., It will go next to his cd player and by his guitar. He is looking forward to then being able to watch it when he takes a nap.

Every other time he has asked for something so persistently we've gotten it for him. We were happy to oblige with the guitar for Christmas. However, we did have reservations about giving our son cleaning supplies for his birthday last year when Walter was thinking more along the lines of a basketball hoop.

Purchasing a grandfather clock for our son's bedroom really isn't an option though. First, that would empty the birthday budget for quite some time and second I would like my son to sleep again rather than be woken every 15 minutes when the clock dings.

And so...today I am concerned that his third birthday will always be remembered as the day of disappointment. Just like when I didn't receive that real Cabbage Patch doll that I wanted, or when the real baby I wanted didn't come when I planned.

Learning how to handle disappointment is an important part of a contented life. As I was just studying, the Israelites came to a point where God had enough of their grumbling and rebellion. Despite all the warnings they received not to rebel and to trust him for provision, they continued to doubt and firmly believed what they wanted was the best.

Ultimately that led to them not being able to enter the Promised Land but given a destiny of wandering in the desert for the rest of their lives. Even then, when God told them they couldn't have the land, they continued to believe they could take it anyway. When they tried to fight their own way into the land, the inhabitants easily beat them in the attack and even more Israelites were killed.

God knew what was best for His people then and He still does today. He understands what will bring us lasting joy and knows the things that will ultimately be destructive to our lives.

When Asher outgrows a love of clocks in a few months. When he is in a rested happy mood rather than being woken every fifteen minutes, I hope Asher too will understand that mom and dad are loving him best for his birthday by not giving him a big ding clock.