She swoons and stomps like the successfully bred drama queen that she is. She always has, I guess. And yesterday, when I caught her slopping dirty dishes into a sudsy sink when I’d asked her to clean her room, I wasn’t as appreciative as she’d hoped.
“Honey, is that what I asked you to do?”
She bowed her head, but her shoulders said she was angry.
“Now go and finish your room, please,” I said.
Tornadoes come in all shapes and sizes. This one was tall and thin and almost seven years old. “You never let me do ANYTHING I WANT. Nobody likes me in this house!!”
And then she didn’t clean her room, she climbed up into her bed and sank down as low as she could.
That was yesterday.
Today, she disobeyed me and then lied about it. Well, she tried to lie. Her eyes can’t bear it. We sat together, and I stroked her hair. I reminded her of the commandments that had just been broken, and then I pointed her to the cross for forgiveness. The Gospel. The Gospel always works.
But sometimes it takes a minute.
She wanted her own way. She’s a regular human being, my first born baby girl. And I wasn’t quite catching her vision…the one where the world revolves around her. The more I explained that she had disobeyed, the angrier she became.
“But I just don’t understand what’s wrong with that?” she questioned.
‘Nothing, except that it was disobedience.”
And she grew angrier still.
“You need to talk to God about this,” I offered. And then she insisted that it’s much easier to hear the devil, but it’s pretty hard to hear God. And I sighed. I understand.
“Honey, what if all Daddy needed me to do was wash his clothes.” I was attempting to break it down. “Before he left for the day, he said, ‘Would you mind please washing my clothes, even if that means you don’t have time for anything else? It’s really important to me.’ And I answered that I would.”
She nodded, and even smiled a little, like she already knew where I was going.
“But as soon as Daddy left, I decided that he’d probably rather have an amazing meal. And, in fact, I cooked such a feast that I didn’t have time to do anything else. Oh, I slaved and I slaved!”
“Like Cain!”
She gets it.
I laughed, “Yes, and to think I was going to make it simple.” And then a tear tumbled down my cheek. I always cry when I think about Cain. “But what if Daddy came home and saw the amazing meal I made, and then realized he still didn’t have clean clothes? Do you think he’d be able to appreciate the meal like I wanted him to?”
“No, I guess not.”
“He’d still be sweet about it, but he’d probably be a little hurt that I ignored what he really needed,” Tears filled my eyes, causing her to move closer, because I was still thinking about Cain.
“Do you feel sorry for Cain? Cause I do.” She must have been reading my thoughts.
“Yes, I guess I do,” I sniffed. ”Oh, baby girl,” by this point I was beginning to motion and sob, barely able to speak, “Cain worked so, so hard.”
Now tears welled in her eyes, too.
“You should have seen the size of his tomatoes! And those carrots?!” I took a little liberty with the Scriptures.
“And the broccoli?” she wondered.
“Oh, good grief the broccoli was amazing!”
All of my children have an unusual love for broccoli.
“And he brought it before God,” I continued, “so proud of what he had done, just to have God practically knock it out of his hands.” I was on the floor with Cain, now. “But Cain was wrong, sweet girl. All he had to do was say, ‘I’m sorry, I know this isn’t what you asked of me. I will buy a lamb from Abel and make it right.’”
She nodded.
“Cain was very proud. He worked for praise, not out of worship. God still loved him very much, and he kept on warning him of the Devil, but Cain wouldn’t listen.”
“And he killed his brother.”
“Yes, just for receiving the love and praise that he wanted. Obedience, baby, not sacrifice. Obedience is better.”
And then she pondered deeply, “Do you think God would have liked to see Cain’s vegetables after he brought an animal?”
After thinking a second and wiping my eyes, I said, “Oh, I think He would have loved them.”
And just like that, the attitude was gone. We sat and held each other, still sniffling as we prayed.
Obedience is better than sacrifice. And, I think, sometimes God’s ways are easier than we make them.
30 Responses to “Obedience is Better”
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Oooh that got to me.
“Obedience, not sacrifice. Obedience is better.”
Been on the sacrifice side, thinking it’s obedience. Not a fun place to be. Still not perfect at the obedience thing yet, but you’re right, it’s MUCH better!
Had a similar moment with my 13 year old last week. He has done some amazingly nice stuff for his dad and I, but will not do his schoolwork. We talked about Saul who was supposed to go into the city and destroy everything, including all the livestock, but instead Saul kept the best of the livestock. When confronted he claimed to have save the best animals to sacrifice to God. Yeah, that’s great, but that’s not what God asked you to do.
He understood, but is still struggling with the schoolwork. We have to continually address the issue and I am reminded over and over how patient God is with his children. With me. Parenting is hard work!
Thanks for this post, I needed the reminder.
Thanks, Karina! I miss you! We’re heading to the Springs for our big family birthday on the 6th and are hoping to go to the zoo and FOTF. Wanna meet up?
April 6th, like as in Easter weekend? My initial response is YES!!! But I’ll need to see how things fall into place that weekend.
Yes!
We’re hoping to the zoo on Friday and Focus on Saturday. The zoo is a maybe at this point, though. It would be so fun to see you at Focus! 
Thank you!!! What a great lesson for me!!!
Thank you, Fe! I miss you!
I am humbled deeply by the wisdom of your mothering, as well as your almost 7 year old. At almost 33, I am still learning this lesson, over and over…..and over.
Oh, me too! Me too.
Great post, once again. I continue to learn so much from your writing, it is such a blessing to me.
OH MY thank you so much – you had me in tears.
Thank you!!
My favorite post ever. This is awesome. I love the moment God gave you. Sin is never right, but those teaching moments caused by it can be incredible. Thanks for sharing yours.
I so agree. I hope God can feel that way about my sin…that I let Him teach me and make something beautiful of the moment!
Loved this and needed it today. Thank you!
Thank YOU! I always love hearing that. It’s almost like we’re on big body of Christ or something!
Have a wonderful day!
Oh how I LOVE this post!!! I read you blog more than any other. Your relationship with your heavenly Father always shines through your blog. Wether you are in the midsts of valleys or peaks. My kids and I read about Cain and Able’s strained relationship just 2 nights ago. I love how you made it relavent to your little girl. Thank you for sharing your journey with the world!
Thank you! There are SO many awesome blogs out there, so it really humbles me to read that! Christ in me. I hope so!! That’s why I do it!
This post brought tears to my eyes as well. I truly enjoy and have been blessed by your blog. You don’t know me but yet I feel like you are one of my girlfriends who I could go to coffee with have fellowship. Blessings!
I love coffee, and I love girlfriends more!! I keep saying this, but y’all (who I’ve never met or talked to on the phone but continue to read and comment) are SOO special to me. Thank you for being a part of my life!
I LOVE this! Such a beautiful picture you’ve painted here
Thank you. I love it when He just does that for me!
Good gravy, are you sure you haven’t been looking in my windows!? She sounds like a carbon copy of my little tornado! I’m sad (and a bit relieved) to know that I am not alone here!;) I love how you broke this down so easily for her! This has to be one of my very favorite posts! Love, hugs and blessings to you all!
P.S. My kids love broccoli too!!
LOLOLOL! Well, that makes me feel better, too!
Okay, this is one of my favorite posts.
(And, can I tell you that I’m a little relieved to hear that your little tornado looks an awful lot like my little tornado?)
I think we’re all relieved when we hear that other people’s kids are not so different from ours!
It’s a wild ride, this parenting thing! 
What a beautiful moment for you both! And quite the lesson
By the way, I love the blog makeover. It looks wonderful! (I’m sorry if it’s been up for a while….I haven’t logged onto any blogs in quite a while.)
Thanks! And yes, it’s been since January 1. BUT something tells me you’ve been just a little busy!