Though one is ten months younger, both of my grandchildren have hit the tantrum phase hard. Having been given a choice once or twice, their little psyches have begun asserting their own wills quite forcefully in almost every situation. Squeals echo from the almost two year old while the almost one face drops and throws a little fit. Though short-lived and easily silenced, mostly by distraction, their parents are in for quite a ride.
I remind them of what my daddy told me with a grin when they were in the throes of toddlerhood- long suffering- to which I always replied, “if you’re saying I’ll be suffering for a long time then you’ve got that right!” I can laugh about it now, or stifle a laugh at my childrens’ expense as their little ones carry on, but part of growing up is learning to push our own limitations and accept that although we can’t always get what we want, we must learn to stand firm even when it’s uncomfortable. They’re just practicing.
“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.
“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.”
The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens.
They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.
The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar.
Hananiah was called Shadrach.
Mishael was called Meshach.
Azariah was called Abednego.
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.
He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.”
Daniel was a captive in Babylon from his youth. From 605-539 BC or 66 years Daniel remained in Babylon. He was chosen for service in the king’s court and elevated to the position of magi during his lifetime, but his life was never his own. Even his Hebrew name with its underlying meaning, God is my judge, was stripped away and replaced with Belteshazzar, or Baal protect the king. Immersed in the history and literature of the Babylonians, it would have been easy for this young man to forget his God-given identity in the name of simplicity or self-preservation, and he had more than one opportunity to do so, but Daniel held himself accountable for what he could control.
“Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.
But he responded, “I am afraid of my Lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
“Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.
God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom.
And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar.
The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
So they entered the royal service.
Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.”
Daniel 1:3-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.1.3-20.NLT
We get only a glimpse of what long suffering looked like in the lives of Daniel and the three friends. A gilded statue and a fiery furnace for the three and the lions’ den for aging Daniel at the hands of the king’s jealous advisors are all that’s recorded in biblical narrative, but sixty-six years is a long time to endure captivity. However, Daniel determined not to defile himself and because of his faithfulness, a pagan king acknowledged the one true God and magi from the east followed a star to Bethlehem in Judea to bring gifts to a newborn king.
“Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?
But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it.
So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.
And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
But do this in a gentle and respectful way.
Keep your conscience clear.
Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”
Jesus is our ultimate example.
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time.
He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.”
1 Peter 3:13-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.3.13-18.NLT
Most of us have long since outgrown throwing tantrums to get our own way, but just maybe we need to get a little riled up once in awhile when things start to get uncomfortable. Jesus did.
“It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple.
He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.””
John 2:13-17 NLT
A Fitting Reply 
Thank you, LeAnn, for some very good thoughts, especially for young mothers.
Love you
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