Praying for Cookies

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Our first long-term foster child was a sweet little girl named Shea*. We brought her home when she was three months old, and she left over two years later.

She was an even-tempered, happy child. She loved to color in her little book at the kitchen table. When she finished, she’d grab the paper and toddle over to the basement door, where I displayed the kids’ school papers.

“Oh! You want your paper up on the door too?” I’d be rewarded with a bobbing head and big grin.

One morning after the kids left for school, Shea and I climbed the stairs to the bathroom. I was still in pj’s, and it was time to get ready for the day. As I brushed my teeth, she climbed up on the toilet for a closer look. Watching me intently she asked, “Yoo wass yoh pace?” Yes, Shea. I’m washing my face.

Finishing up, I turned to her and asked, “What would you like for breakfast today?”

Oooh, a choice! Her head tips to one side as she considers the possibilities. Then the light bulb goes on. She merrily suggests, “Cookies?”



I had to smile. Who among us has never had a cookie breakfast? I sure have. But I know it’s not a great idea, cookies are a terrible breakfast food. And, as we all know, they are a gateway drug. Next thing you know, I’ll have to get up early to set up an ice cream sundae bar.

I shook my head sadly, “No Shea, I don’t think cookies are a good idea.” With one hand in mine, the other on the banister, we slowly make our descent down the stairs. I suggest Cheerios or scrambled eggs as an alternative to cookies.

Five minutes later, Shea is chasing Cheerios around her cereal bowl with a spoon, happy as a clam.
This whole exchange reminded me of my prayer life. Just as I asked Shea to tell me what she wanted, God asks me to talk to him about what I want too. He will patiently listen to all my wants and needs.

Sometimes, I ask for cookies. To me, it looks perfect, but to God, it looks like trouble. The Lord is the wisest of all Fathers. He knows that what I want might not be good for me. Like Shea, I may really, really, want it, but he’s got much better things in mind.

The Lord gently caresses my face and says, “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” And then he gives me what I need, which is infinitely better.

I pray that I will be as accepting and content with God’s better idea for me, as Shea was with me. Faced with ‘no’ from Mom, she seamlessly moved on to option #2. No snit-fit, no whining.

I can learn a lot from a two year old.

*not her real name

74 thoughts on “ Praying for Cookies ”

  3. She sounds precious Ceil; I hope she is with some very loving parents! :) Great analogy; we may not understand why or how
    He plans to fulfill our needs, but our love and faith believe that every good thing comes from Him!

    Blessings; have a great week!
    Denise

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    • Hi Denise! I agree that our love and faith are key attributes. Without those, we just can’t make that leap to new, better things. Like leaping to Cheerios!

      Thank you for your blessings, you have a happy Monday :)
      Ceil

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    • Hi Joyful! Thank you for your lovely comment. Sometimes, it’s the children who lead us, that’s for sure. Shea was such a sweet child, I appreciated her attitude…I hope The Lord will say that about me. Someday. Still working on it.

      You have a great week too!
      Ceil

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  5. Another connection, Ceil! We fostered 19 children over a ten year period. In fact, our daughter came to us as a foster child and after 7 years we were able to adopt her!
    Your illustration of prayer is perfect–especially as we enter the Christmas season with all its cookies and “want” lists. Great post, my friend.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Pam! Really? What a fun world we live in! It is such a rewarding ministry, isn’t it? My brother and sister both fostered to adopt one or more of their children too. Such a blessing for the child and the parent.

      I didn’t think about the Christmas connection, that’s a good thought! What child doesn’t think of cookies and gift llsts? Thank you for those added connections.

      Have a great Monday!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Deb! Thank you for your lovely comment, Deb. I really remember that incident at the sink, and the cookies. Isn’t it funny what sticks in your mind?

      You have a blessed day too, my friend. Thank you for visiting!
      Ceil

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  7. You have a true gift Ceil…

    A gift for taking a beautiful story and illustrating it in my mind,

    And then relating it to our loving Father and applying to to my daily life…

    Thanks for that, dear friend!

    Happy Monday morning. : )

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Billie Jo! Oh, thank you so much for your kind comment. It made my day! Shea was such a special little girl, and for some reason, this incident just stuck in my mind after all those years.

      Monday blessings to you!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Linda! Thank you for your generous comment, I really appreciate it. I just never know what is going to connect with people; I’m so glad you connected with this post. You are so generous to lift me up, it makes me smile!

      I hope you have a wonderful day, my friend. Blessings to you!
      Ceil

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  9. Oh Ceil, there is so much truth in this post. I often ask for cookies… I know I do. Thankfully, the Lord knows best and usually His plan is the healthiest one which ends up feeling as if I have enjoyed an ice cream sundae.

    Your posts are always so beautiful and insightful. Thank you. The next time I am in prayer, I will be thinking… is this a cookie request?

    Wishing you a blessed day.
    xoxo

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    • Hi Jennifer! I was thinking the same thing…is this praying for cookies? But I think a lot of times, I don’t recognize my requests as ‘cookie prayers’. I think I really need it, so I ask for it. It’s not until later that I realize God didn’t answer it because it’s not what I really needed. And he has a better idea.

      Thank you for encouraging me, Jennifer. I really appreciate that. It’s so good to know that you like what you read here. Bless you for your support!
      (Why do I have a sudden craving for an ice cream sundae??)
      Blessings!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Linda! Thanks for the smile!

      Maybe our little kids are more like adults without all the filters. They just come right out and say what they think. Sometimes it’s so funny or insightful, and sometimes chaos ensues.
      Hmm…they are a lot like me actually!
      Good to see you today!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Brenda! So glad you liked the post today. You are so right, I think children are so honest and simple. And the pure in heart shall see God. That’s what I want!

      Have a blessed Monday :)
      Ceil

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    • Hi Victor! That is so true. Of course, I would rather not wait. And the sundae bar sounds too good to pass up. It’s a struggle for me.

      But it definitely does come down to trust. If I really believe that he loves me, then I’ll know what he is doing is best.
      Thank you for your blessings Victor. I need them!
      May God continue to increase your strength and ability.
      Ceil

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  14. Shea was blessed to have you as a foster parent. Your story about her request for cookies is so sweet, and your spiritual application is great. I like the picture of God caressing my face and gently refusing my request because it’s not the best for me.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Linda! Well, I think the blessing was all mine really. She was the perfect little person to be our first-timer. God knew what he was doing, that’s for sure!

      I like that image of God loving me too. Like any Father, he wants to connect with me in a reassuring way. While turning down my request! But it’s all because he has a better idea.

      Have a wonderful afternoon, Linda!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Mindy! I sure learned a lot from Shea, that’s for sure. What a sweetie. I wonder if anyone would say that about me? Doubt it!
      But I’ll keep working on loving the good things he gives me, and take a pass on the dessert cart :)

      Have a blessed week my friend!
      Ceil

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  16. I recently taught this concept to my confirmation class. I’m afraid so many of them have not had the best religious instruction, let alone instruction on prayer and how God answers our prayers :) Beautiful story :)

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Patty! Not getting what we want is a very hard concept. I’m still learning it myself. I remember a priest once saying that many people think of prayer as a McDonalds. Prayer in one window, immediate results at the next. I wish!

      But that excludes faith, so it’s really not workable.
      Thank you for your visit today. Hope you have a relaxing evening!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Patty! I’m so glad you liked the post today. I was really blessed by being involved in fostering, I got my reward right here!
      Loved your pipe-cleaner Santas. You are so talented!
      Hugs right back :)
      Ceil

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  18. Just loved this story! Yes, all too often I have also fallen prey to asking the Lord for cookies. But, life is not all about the *sugar*! He knows what will nourish me the most, and I must trust Him for the proper *meal* that I need.

    GOD BLESS!

    (OK, just to be ornery, would Rice Krispies treats qualify as breakfast???)

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Sharon! I don’t think you could ever be ornery! Honestly, I’ve had those for breakfast too. Yikes, I think I need an intervention.

      Thanks be to God that he gives me the good things. I’d never get them myself.
      God bless you too my friend. Thanks for stopping by!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Dianna! I’m so happy you liked it. Not only did I learn from her, children always are a lesson in patience, aren’t they? Still need to learn that one too. Man, I am a mess. Good thing God loves me, that’s for sure.

      Hope you had a good Monday!
      Ceil

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  20. I love this post, Ceil. And you’re absolutely right that we would ask for cookies for breakfast every day. LOL re: the gateway drug reference. Grateful that God always provides the perfect alternative to our “cookies”.

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    • Hi Alison! So glad you caught that reference to gateway drugs, I thought that was funny! It is good that God can show me there are some fun alternatives to cookies. I’d still be in the corner with the Oreo bag without him!
      Have a good evening!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Mary! Thank you so much for your encouraging comment. Wow, that means a lot.
      I am glad to see that I am not the only one addicted to the sugary things in life. Nothing like a fun sundae bar. (but not for breakfast! even I have limits…)
      Thank you for being such a faithful visitor :)
      Ceil

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  22. I’ve also been asking for cookies from God … yet He knows what’s best for me. Your illustration is so vivid and near – so tangible – I can see the precious little girl with shiny eyes asking for cookies – Yet as a parent one knows better … Love in action!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Nina! I often don’t know when I’m asking for cookies. Sounds like good ideas to me, but you’re so right, he knows better. Then, looking back, I see how much I didn’t need what I asked for.

      I wish you could have met her as a toddler. She was serious and hilarious all at the same time. Well, I guess all kids are. Such a sweetie.
      Hope work is going well, and you continue to feel better!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Mari! Join the club. I can be quite the pouter. I passed that down to my daughter, and I am not proud of it either. She’d pout us under the table!
      I am so glad you liked this post. It was fun to visit that part of my life and to learn from it too.
      Hope you had a good day!
      Ceil

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  24. Ceil, so sorry I have been MIA. I tell you, we were swamped with catching up on housework and homeschol work and now that all of that is behind us, the kids have their first fall cold. Lol, isn’t that just the way it goes? On the up-side, since I’ve cancelled school for the week so that they can get better, I have a lot of time to share on my blog this week. :-)

    I just love that y’all had foster kids. That’s something that I would love to do once my children are older. What a blessing. I imagine it was probably hard to let go when it was time for them to leave, though.

    And yes, I have definitely had a cookie breakfast before. Yum yum! The Father definitely looks out for us when we want something like that which might not be good for us. I feel like He was doing that for me when it was time to move on from a particular ministry a couple of months ago. Isn’t God amazing?!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Dear! How wonderful to see you again! I have breezed over to see you a few times, but didn’t see anything new. I’ll come over tomorrow for sure.

      Being a foster family is such a joy, but it’s pain too. Those goodbye’s are pretty brutal. Especially the long-term placements. But you get so many blessings too. My children are very good with their own kids because of all the experience and fun they had with so many different personalities. Me too!
      God is amazing. All the time.
      See you soon :)
      Ceil

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    • Hi Cecelia! Oh, so have I. Believe it. But I don’t recognize is as a ‘cookie prayer’ until later. I think it makes perfect sense, and even get a little upset that I’m not getting it.
      Thanks be to him who knows what is best for me.
      So nice to see you today! Have a good evening :)
      Ceil

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    • Hi Michell! Thank you for your supportive comments. God really does know what is best, after all, he made us! Even if I think I have to have something, he will give me exactly what I need.
      I sure do learn from the ‘little ones’ as you said!
      Have a good evening :)
      Ceil

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  27. My oldest daughter tells her girls “you get what you get so don’t pitch a fit”, haha…the joke is on her because they pitch some DOOZIES! I look back at how many times I asked for cookies and got broccoli or ended up fasting…and I cringe to think of how stubborn I was before Him, how demanding of my own way. I know that there has been so many times when He let me have my way to show me how fantastically awful it would turn out. I, at over 50, am finally becoming quite the little ‘Shea’…and I have colored the prettiest picture for you…will you hang it up for me, precious friend? You warm my heart so! {{{hugs}}} Kelly

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    • Hi Kelly! I laughed and laughed at your response, thank you for a great start to this day, my friend. You are so right!! Sometimes the Lord gives me what I want, and it ends up lighting a spectacular fireball in my living room. LOL! I love your pointing that out, it’s so honest and TRUE!

      I am also over 50, but I’m not quite ‘Shea material’ yet. I’m working on it though, and I hope I’ll get to your level at some point.

      Bring on your coloring sheet, and we’ll put it up on the door together. I already know it’s going to light up the room…in a good way! (i.e.: non-explosive)
      Have a wonderful day, Kelly. You have brightened mine!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Karen! I liked sharing this memory, it was fun. I hope I’ll continue learning lessons from children.
      Where are you? I’ll bring the coffee, you make the cookies. Sound fair?
      Tuesday blessings!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Beth! Thank you for your supportive comment, I really appreciate it. You were one of my first ‘followers’ and I always love your visits here. You are a great encourager :)
      Have a wonderful afternoon,
      Ceil

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  30. Dearest Ceil, You hit the nail on the head! Again!! It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us these truths. Wisdom is a gift, and I am so glad you use what He has given you. We also had a foster daughter for about the same amount of time; it was bittersweet when she left us!
    I want to wish you my dear friend, the most blessed and gracious Thanksgiving ever, because He has used you to minister to so many of us! Yours always, Roxy

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    • Hi Roxy! Thank you for your encouragement Roxy. Wow. Thank you. I know you had mentioned that you were a foster family. Those ‘goodbyes’ are what finally made us decide to stop. It’s so painful. I know exactly what you mean.
      Thank you for your Thanksgiving blessings, I pray you will have a peaceful and love-filled day. I know you will :)
      Always so nice to see you!
      Ceil

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  31. Children can teach us so much! Must be why we are told to “become as little children.” They have faith and trust that God knows best. How did we lose that simple trust?

    Even so, I hope Shea got a cookie sometime that day!

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    • Hi Jerralea! That’s a good question. If I had the simple trust that Shea had, I’d be so much better off in my relationship with God.
      You know, I don’t know if she got a cookie later that day. She should have!

      Thank you for your visit today, I hope you have a good evening!
      Ceil

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  32. Cookies?? Yes please! I want a cookie for breakfast and maybe lunch, oh and one for dinner too please! Sorry… you just had to say the magic word, yum!
    Okay, I feel better now…. We need to follow by example, like our own children have. They watch your every move and if you should happen to take that wrong step, then they will too. So, I always pray that the Lord will show me the right direction and hope I continue to follow in his foot steps.

    I hope you are having a great day! We are finishing up on crafts and then my oldest son has his Kingdom Knights Book Club tonight. I can’t wait to see if the knights slay the dragons :)

    Talk to you soon!

    Blessings,
    Amy

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Dear Amy! I’d let you have a cookie, but I ate all of them :)
      I love you comment because it’s so true that our kids are like little sponges…or spies. They watch how we deal with the world, and believe that’s the best way. Praying for patience and wisdom is such a wonderful idea!

      It’s a sad day. My friend lost her 24 year old daughter. The wake was today, and I am helping with the luncheon after the funeral. I feel so badly for the whole family. Please keep them in your prayers.
      Blessings!
      Ceil

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    • Hi Jen! I do find out later that God knows best, even if that means no cookies.
      Thank you so much for your sympathy…it is a very sad thing. I can’t imagine. You are so kind to pray for my friend. I really appreciate your kindness. God bless you.
      Ceil

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    • Hi Jean! (nice photo!) Thank you so much for your encouraging comment. It was fun to remember that incident. It’s like it was yesterday.
      Sometimes certain things just ‘stick’. I’m glad this one did!
      Have a good evening, and thank you for your visit :)
      Ceil

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    • Hi Wanda! No kidding. Shea taught me a lot, and this memory just stands out for me. Like I told Jean, some things just ‘stick.’ Amazing that later on, I’m telling other people about her.
      I hope I can be as accepting of the answers to my cookie prayers as she was.
      Have a great Wednesday!
      Ceil

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  36. Sometimes I just sit back and marvel at the innocence of my grand daughter. I too have to deny her many “cookie” requests but she usually accepts it when I tell her why. I could learn a lesson from her and save myself a lot of headaches wanting things when the Lord has better things in mind for me.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Peggy! I know what you mean, I have granddaughter too. How wonderful that she puts her trust in you most of the time! It does show me how beautiful trust is. God just might have a pearl waiting!

      Nice to see you!
      Ceil

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  37. Hey Gal! I am so thankful that God doesn’t “give in” to our requests all of the time. I cannot count the times when I have ask Him for something that He tells me to wait, or that He has something better in mind. Unfortunately, I even know what His answer is going to be at the time. Just as a little child, I want to see how far I can “push” my will, and get my way. The thing is, sometimes He will allow it just to teach me a lesson; ” that His will is ALWAYS BETTER than mine. LOL! God Bless!
    PJ

    Reply ↓

    • Hi PJ! I join you in thanking the Lord that he is such a good Father. I always think I know what’s best, but of course, I don’t!
      Good point about ‘pushing’ our will. I didn’t think of that, good one! His will is always better, isn’t it?
      Blessings to you too!
      Ceil

      Reply ↓

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