February 11, 2025
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” ~Matthew 7:7-8
Here’s an invitation that warmed our hearts. “Marie-Helene wants to celebrate her birthday at Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, MD with Nana and Grandpa. Daddy and Papa can come too.” So last weekend we spent 24 noisy, crowded, crazy hours at The Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, MD.
After checking in to our rooms, we headed for the indoor water park. As we were standing in a line to get towels, the birthday girl spied water-proof Wolf Ears, for the low low price of $12.95. “Nana, will you buy these for me?” “You already have a pair of fur ones. I need to think about that,” I replied.
Anne-Sophie, her older sister sidled up to me with a beseeching smile and said, “Nana, you should but waterproof wolf ears for Marie-Helene’s birthday.”
I was saved by the fact that we’d gotten to the front of the line. Later, as Anne-Sophie and I floated down the Lazy River, she confided to me that she and her sister had decided that if they both asked, “Nana would buy it.”
I almost caved until I learned they’d plan to manipulate me.
Jesus told his followers to “ask (God), and it will be given to you.” Jesus also advocated shamelessly asking a neighbor in the dead of night to borrow a loaf of bread to feed an unexpected guest.
The moment passed, the request quickly forgotten by dinner and opening birthday gifts. But the request and shameless faith in my generosity has stayed with me.
In these troubling times, I find comfort in their faith in me, and perhaps God by extension. They can ask for anything, including waterproof Wolf Ears. We can ask God with faith in God’s goodness to us. Sometimes the answer is no, or not yet. But the bond of love remains, and I am humbled by their faith in me, even when the answer is “no.”
Ask, seek, knock. ~ Anne
Wayfinding 