Driving Lessons

Today, like so many other days, I took advantage of the coincidence of bad attitudes and a short drive in the car to lecture my children. God did the same thing. Here's how it went down, my thoughts in italics:

I can't believe how unbelievable self-centered these kids are being! I'm so sick of hearing this! "All I keep hearing out of you guys is so selfish! It's all about what you want. 'I want to sit next to them.' 'I want that.' And if you don't get what you want then there's whining and crying. That's not okay. If you don't get to sit next to someone, it's OKAY. The world won't end. In fact, you can be HAPPY for the person who gets to sit next to them. Can we do that? Is it possible to be happy for someone else?"... a couple mumbled yeses come from the back... "What if Jesus only did whatever He wanted to do? What if one day He said, 'I think I'm just going to sit by the lake here, maybe do a little fishing, and just rest today.' And then sick people came to Him and said 'Please heal us!' Would He just say, 'No, not today. I don't want to.'?" Hmm... That's true. He was always serving others. Not just when He felt like it. "And what about when Jesus died on the cross? He had all of God's power. He didn't have to die, but He did. Do you think it felt nice to hang on a cross?"... mumbled noes... "No! Then why did He do it if He didn't feel like it?"... some vague answers are given... Love! Love! One of you say LOVE! Don't you know how much He loves you? And me too. How could I forget how much He loves me? I am living like He loves me a little... But the reality is so different. His love is just so much deeper than I can really even grasp. I should be living according the reality of His deep love for me!... "He died on the cross because He LOVES you. He didn't want to feel the pain and suffering and loneliness that He did, but He loves you that much. I don't know about you, but when I think of what Jesus gave up for me, I don't feel so bad about giving up some little thing I want for someone."... I notice the song on the radio and turn it up... Amazing love, how can it be that you my King would die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor You.... Amazing love! It's my joy to honor You Jesus....