A spiritual illustration...

My mom is a talented speaker, and has always easily found spiritual illustrations throughout life. As a kid, it was always kind of a game in our home. We'd go through life, and have some sort of an experience, and then figure out a way that it could be a spiritual illustration. So, the tendency to make these sort of connections seems to happen often.

While making rice crispy treats for the first time with Kate, the Lord brought to mind a great spiritual illustration. Here was the scenario:

Kate: Can I have a marshmallow, Mom?
Me: Not right now, Katelyn.
Kate: I want to lick off the spoon!
Me: You can lick it off just as soon as the cookies are finished.
Kate: Can I have a cookie?
Me: When they are all done and cool, you may have one.
Kate: I want a cookie, Mommy,... please!
Me: You can have a cookie once they are cool.
(A few seconds later.)
Kate: Please may I have a cookie, Mommy?
Me: Katelyn, I told you that you may have a cookie once they're all cool. I don't want them to burn your tongue.
Kate: But I want one, Mom!
Me: I know that, sweetie, I'll give you one as soon as they're cool.

A couple things came to mind, following this conversation. One, I was left asking myself, how often do I ask God for something, and become impatient when I don't get the answer I want right then? I knew that it was in Kate's best interest to wait for a cookie. I wanted her to have the joy of eating one, but she needed to enjoy it at the right time (when the cookie-making process was finished, and they was cool enough to eat). But also, point two, how patient must God be?! I so often lack patience in these sort of conversations, just wanting Kate to understand my point of view. How wonderful that God is so patient with me... and if only I could learn a bit more quickly, to wait on Him.