Asking For Elephants

A little girl walked determinedly down the path at the zoo,

Her father close behind, holding her white hooded jacket,
And a sagging balloon, that was trailing low to the ground.



She knew exactly where she was headed,
It had been on her mind since breakfast.
Her father had smiled at her over the rim of his steaming coffee mug.



“You may ask me for anything, daughter of mine,
For I love you and it delights me to give when you come to me.”
Her eyes twinkled as she chewed a mouthful of milk-soaked Cheerios thoughtfully.



When they arrived at the zoo gate, the little girl stood as still as a soldier at attention.
She pointed to a colorful bouquet of balloons,
Large, full, and bumping against each other in the breeze.



“That’s what I want, Daddy. Will you give me a balloon, please?”
Her father smiled and bought her the only red one in the bunch.
“I love you, daughter of mine, and it delights me to give when you come to me.”



They explored exhibits for a while and then took a much needed lunch break.
“Daughter, what would you ask for, if you knew that I could give you anything?”
“I know what I’d ask for, Daddy, but it’s too big.  You'll say no.”



“Try. Push and see if I have a limit.”



She met his smiling gaze with a determined expression in her brown eyes.
“Okay, Daddy. Follow me.”
They stood and she led the way.



When they reached the African Savannah corner of the zoo, she stopped suddenly.
Her finger raised again and pointed at the item she desired.
An elephant, tall, wide, lumbering, and wrinkled.



“That’s what I want, Daddy. Will you give me an elephant, please?”
The little girl extended her small palm toward the elephant,
Ready to receive.



“I love you, daughter of mine, and it delights me to give when you come to me.
This elephant is not too much to ask for, but it is too much for this small hand of yours.
Ask me for the strength you need to hold this gift.”

The little girl held out her other palm, and then stretched her arms as wide as they could go.
Her eyes squinted shut in the effort, her mouth a comical contortion.
“Look now, Daddy. Please give me this elephant.”



“You have a lot of strength, daughter of mine. That is clear to see.
But even ALL of that strength you possess is not enough for this gift in front of you.”
The elephant swayed its long trunk and looked at the little girl’s stretched pose curiously.



The little girl dropped her arms, exhaled, and turned to face her father.
With a skip and a quick sprint, she catapulted herself up into his arms.
She nestled her nose into his neck.



“Daddy, will you make me strong enough to hold this elephant?”
He hugged her tightly.
“Yes, daughter of mine. Now that you are here with me, you are strong enough.”

23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

          – John 16:23 & 24

20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

         -2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

Photo credits:  ell brown,  superhua, Martin Pettitt