Be Careful What You Ask For... You Might Not Like What You Receive...

I have to start this post by telling you about a funny occurrence at work Sunday. I had a cake order for two cakes for a 50th wedding anniversary. The order said to decorate the cakes alike and they wanted "vibrant, bright flowers around the top edge of the cake for a border" and "think Hawaii". Ok... no problem! As I set up the cakes I was "putting my brain in Hawaii mode". What do I think of when I think of Hawaii... hmmmmm.....

Well, I thought of volcanoes and palm trees and the ocean and sandy beaches and lush green vegetation and of course flowers! "Vibrant, bright flowers". So I decided to create this Hawaiian masterpiece... out of a cake. It was rather easy really. I had done similar things in the past. I made a volcano out of a cupcake and icing... and I airbrushed lava down inside a little indentation in the top and had the color flowing down the side in three places. The volcano itself was blackish brown. Around that I airbrushed bright vibrant green and I put little plastic palm trees and icing grasses all over the green. Then I made a sand colored beach along the lush greenery... and I carefully sprinkled cinnamon and sugar along the beach area to look like sand. Then the ocean was airbrushed a vibrant blue and I took the back of a spatula and made "waves" with white icing pulling it up through the blue color. The bottom border was a vibrant blue and looked like waves. All around the top edge of the cake for the top border were flowers of vibrant pink, purple and orange with bright yellow centers and green leaves connecting them like a lei for the border. IT WAS FABULOUS!

I had finished the first one... but had not written the words on the cake yet... and the lady who ordered it called the store. She was wondering when they would be ready for pick up. I told her about another half hour to finish the second cake. I also told her about what I had done with the first one. I was so excited when I described it because it turned out awesome! The lady said "NOOOOOOO... I only wanted it iced plain white with bright flowers ONLY around the top edge. That won't do." I told her that I was glad that she had called and that it would be no problem to make it the other way and that we would just keep the cake with the scene for our cake case to sell.

She was the owner of a local restaurant in town and she placed the order for the cakes for the family member that was putting on the party. The family member just happened to be at the restaurant when she called and she wanted me to talk to her. I told her what I had told the other lady and how the cake had been decorated. She too agreed that the simpler cakes would be much better. I again said that it was no problem and that was that. I hurried to do two much plainer cakes for them. They were iced white... with vibrant green leaves for the bottom border... and just the bright colored flowers along the top edge for a border with the writing in the middle. EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID THEY WANTED! ((I aim to please because the CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT))

After I finished the cakes I had to hurry to the time clock to get to lunch. When I returned from lunch... one of the other bakery workers had seen two ladies "OOOOHING and AAAAAAHHHING" over the cake with the volcano and palm trees and lush oceanside beach. (My idea of a private secluded Hawaiian getaway) I had told them about having to remake the cakes... so she knew which cakes to give the lady when she came to pick them up. Anyways... She saw these ladies oogling over my masterpiece. She said their eyes were bright and shiny and their faces were lit up like they had just got the ultimate Christmas present! She... (being quite the little spit-fire)... walked over and asked if she could help them. They told her that they were here to pick up their cakes. Their eyes still all happy and glee filled instantly drooped beyond their knees when the bakery gal said... "Oh... these down here are your cakes! Aren't they pretty?"

Why can't people sometimes think beyond their own little boxes? Some people have enough creativity to drown a flea in. While I was decorating the volcano cake... all I could think of was... "They are probably going to have a Hawaiian theme anniversary party. Maybe they are going to retire there. Maybe they bought them surprise tickets for their first trip to Hawaii. Maybe they got engaged in Hawaii and they wanted it to be special for them." I wanted to go to the party!! Apparently their little box of crayons... were not quite like my BIG 64 COUNT CRAYOLA WITH THE SHARPENER!

I wonder if they kicked themselves for saying no to the masterpiece? I wonder if it would have actually been perfect for their party? I wonder if they are ever going to squelch the creativity of someone with a creative mind again? Perhaps they need a better party planner?

Deeper thoughts on this matter? Yep... I got 'em! Let's say that God is throwing us a party! How about a banquet in heaven! Sounds pretty great actually. Imagine all of the wonderful things! I picture getting ready to sit down with all the amazing people that you just know are going to be there... (Jesus... the disciples... your loved ones)... and being so excited and totally in awe. I imagine tables stretching on forever... enough to make room for everyone. The finest of everything sparkling and just absolutely gorgeous... and then... the person serving you sets a paper plate in front of you! Everyone else gets crystal and gold and the finest china... and you get a paper plate.

When you pray... do you ask for "just enough to get us by"?... Or... do you ask for "an over abundance to bless us and overflow into the lives of others"? I have been praying the latter of the two. I don't want to settle for something that is "just enough". God wants us to have "OUR HEARTS DESIRE"... and sometimes all we ask for is "just enough". I wanted to give that lady a cake beyond her wildest imagination...something she and her guests would talk about and never forget... and she wanted... just enough. Sometimes we need to think beyond our little box. We get so focused on what is one foot around us... we forget to see what lies beyond our own heads.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of you heart."

Ecclesiastes 6:2 "God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."

Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

God wants to give us SO MUCH! Accept it! Receive it! Don't let someone else get what he has for you... don't miss out of the inheritance of the kingdom of God...