The Desires of My Heart

Hannah, my granddaughter, has never experienced lack in her life. When she was born she had enough clothes, toys and stuff to provide for at least three children. At the ripe old age of six, she has more high tech gadgets than I had in my first forty years of life. So, the last thing I expected to see upon opening the garage door to get her "bicycle" so she could accompany me on a walk was a good old-fashioned red tricycle, just like the one I had when I was her age.

The memory of my red tricycle is precious to me. I was five. My mom and step-dad had just gotten married and moved our family to Houston. The preceding few years had been rough on my mom, and my step-dad wanted to give her the gift of not having to work outside the home. At the time, kindergarten was not mandatory. So, my step-dad asked me if I would rather go to kindergarten or stay home with my mom with a puppy and a new tricycle.

Yes, it is true. I skipped kindergarten.

The puppy's name was Puddles, and watching Hannah, elbows flying and knees pumping up and down, I remembered the joy of riding my tricycle in endless circles on the driveway in front of our home. It was particularly exhilarating to get up enough speed to take the turns on two wheels, especially since a failure to appropriately negotiate the curve usually resulted in a new band-aide.

My step-dad raised me, and often gave me similarly difficult decisions to make. Would I rather clean the kitchen or go out and work on the car with him? Would I prefer to stay home with my siblings or go to work with him? (I know he made this offer to my siblings also, but I like to think that I am the only one who knew "going to work with Dad" meant a stop at the malt shop.) As a teenager it was, would I rather do [ insert anything here] or take the boat out and go skiing on the river?

My husband tells me that my step-dad spoiled me rotten. But, in reality, he just knew the desires of my heart, and over the years, he offered them to me on many occasions. And, isn't that just like our heavenly father?

Take delight in the Lord; and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4