“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9
One of our daughter’s daily struggles is frustration with not getting it right the first time. She doesn’t really understand the concept of practice.
Today, my parents came and gave her a toy. It’s a top attached to a firing mechanism. My dad got a kick out of it. My daughter immediately dug it, only she wasn’t the one firing the top.
Once my parents headed home, my daughter tried the top for herself. It didn’t go well.
It was late afternoon, and the odds for her susceptibility to an emotional breakdown were high.
First, she was tired. She was physically and emotionally exhausted from extended Grammy and Papa time.
Second, she was sugared out, the product of some early morning donuts and some post-lunch Valentine’s brownies.
Third, the top wasn’t an easy toy. It’s twist mechanism was difficult, and the top’s firing required precise execution. She’s five. She couldn’t pull it off right away.
We generally encourage her to practice, to be okay with not being perfect from the beginning. Her ability to write, add, draw, or work this top can all improve, we tell her.
That’s not good enough. She wants to be good now. And when she doesn’t? Watch out!
“I’ll never get it!” she screamed.
“You just got it today!” my wife and I responded.
And with some help from her patient mom, our daughter did finally get the hang of it. The whole thing probably took fifteen minutes.
There was much rejoicing!
Paul’s promise to the Philippians is that in practicing what he has given them, they will experience God’s peace.
I need to practice being patient too. I get impatient with my daughter’s impatience. When she’s upset, I need to show her what peace looks like. The only way I’ll do that is if I’m attuned to the God of peace.
The promise of Philippians 2:13 is that God is not only with us as we strive for holiness, it is his spirit that makes our practice ever more perfect. I pray that I will see that improvement as a father specifically and as a disciple in general and that I can then ask our daughter to practice the things she’s seen in my life.