Pretty Please?!

Do you remember being a small child asking your parents for just one more ride on the merry go round or just one more story before bed or one more peice of candy?

Yesterday, I had my neice, Talia, at my house for the whole day. One of her favorite shows to watch at my house is called "Kimba The White Lion". I do not enjoy this show at all but she and my nephew and other neice adore it. Talia is at my house every Monday and Thursday and we have a routine that we go through on those days. She knows exactly what to expect at all times while staying with me. All except for 10:00am when Kimba comes on. It's at this point that I decide whether we are going to watch Kimba or go ahead and get in the bathtub. This is a little struggle for me since I find myself wanting to get a move on and get the day going. My day does not include Kimba, but her's does. ;) Tim left for work half way into Kimba and my plans were to send her straight into the bathroom to get ready for her bath. So, after saying goodbye to Tim and closing the front door, I looked around to notice that Talia had raced from the kitchen table to the living room couch in order to watch Kimba. I looked at her and said "Ok, go to the bathroom and take off your clothes and use the potty. Then get in the tub and I'll be in there in a second." She looked at me and said "Can I please watch Kimba?" It was then that it hit me, like so many times before in my life, that I am so blessed to have her in my life and someday she will stop asking to watch Kimba because she'll be a grown woman. My time with her as a babysitter will be short and all I have right now is this very moment that we are living in. So, I looked at her and said "Ok. You can take a bath after Kimba goes off." She was thrilled.

I have never looked at a child and told them to go ahead and do something (for the hundredth time, etc.) and regretted it. I have always found tremendous blessing in showing mercy to God's little ones. It only takes a little bit of our time to make such a huge difference in their little lives and they will never forget it.

How much mercy does God show us?