"I do not need to be here".

My husband and I have 7 grandchildren. They are every one precious. Today, I have the 4 year old on my mind. You see, she lives in north Arkansas and is in the midst of an ice storm. She has seen snow but this is her first ice storm. Things have been ok until last night when the power went out.

She said to our daughter, "I do not need to be here. I need to be at Mimi's". So she called so we could talk. Of course, they live a good 5 - 6 hour drive from us and that's in pretty weather!!! I knew that their car was not leaving the ice it was stuck in! I tried to give her some things to do in the quiet and dark to get her mind off the dark and the sound of tree limbs falling!

Have you ever thought, "I do not need to be here?" Maybe it's a situation or even a location or maybe even a job!! That thought from that so very cute 4 year old reminded me of Paul saying that he was torn between wanting to be with Jesus. Philippians 1: 21-26 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."

I suppose when I read that I hear Paul saying, "I do not need to be here. I need to be with Jesus". He is wanting to be in a better place. Specifically, with Jesus! But, Paul knew that he had work still to do. Work he loved in spite of the fact that he thought he would rather be with Jesus.

Are you in a spot where you would rather not be? What are you going to do about it? The choice is yours: You can whine and spend days talking about your "lot in life" or you can do like our granddaughter and find something to do even in the cold and dark. You can do like Paul and keep on doing what you are supposed to do. You can do like many of us have done - ask yourself, "what can I do to make this a better situation?"

Just thoughts prompted from a four year old granddaughter!!! Linda