“We missed again!” Every year on St. Patrick’s day our home has been invaded by small mischief makers. Drawing on schoolwork, getting into our sugar canisters, and leaving notes about our inability to catch them. To combat this problem my children set increasingly complicated traps. Somehow those pesky leprechauns continue to evade them year after year. The disappointment of the leprechauns’ escape is tempered however, by the fact that as they flee they drop chocolate gold coins from their pockets. Somehow they always drop just the right amount to be divided evenly among my children.
This year my oldest happened upon the sprung traps and scattered gold early in the morning before anyone else was awake. Carefully counting the coins, he determined that each person would receive three. He went back to bed, not disturbing the crime scene in any way. Somehow between his visit and the waking up of the whole group of children, one of our own leprechauns quietly got up, ate three coins and went back to bed. This might not sound surprising, but there is something deeper going on in this particular child.
If you have more than one child, you already know how different kids can be even while being raised in the same home. For this child of 
mine, for some reason there is a sense of lack, of maybe missing out. It comes out in a lot of different ways, one being sneaking treats. It is difficult to see her feel this way. As her mother I want her to feel abundantly taken care of, abundantly loved, even to the point of being spoiled. What I don’t want her to miss out on is this love and abundance that is actually right in front of her.
As always, when I see something in my children God shows me it in myself. I too have struggled with a sense of lack. I have to remind myself all the time that God is my good father and He lavishes His provisions on me. In the same way I want my daughter to have a sense of abundance, He wants me to feel the same way. He doesn’t want me to not be able to see what is right in front of me already.
There was a point in the Israelites’ travels through the desert that they cried out for meat. They had what they felt was a lack, they thought God was keeping something from them. They failed to see God’s provision already in front of them in the form of manna. There are so many times I am like that. Something triggers in me and I feel I am missing out. When God gently reminds me of His goodness and I turn my eyes back to Him as my ultimate provider, I can again see the “manna” blessings in front of me, God’s lavish, abundant, provision in my life and I realize I am not lacking anything.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11
I love this tradition! Especially in how much detail goes into making this so special for your children. I too am this child at times, feeling that I am lacking something from my Father. Even so, He is so gracious and patient. He continues to teach me that He is a good, good Father. Loving and providing for me in even the small and personal details of my life. Christy, thank you for this fresh perspective today.
Yes, this is something I have to learn over and over, that God is good and He will provide!
Love leprechauns. They are mischievious, but happy. God is good, even when you try to put him on the shelf.
God will never leave us lacking in what we need. I absolutely love this, Christy! An excellent read!
Thanks Susan!
What a fun way to celebrate a normally painful (pinching) day. I’ve never heard of this tradition. I learn so much from you, my special friend and sister in the Lord.