A popular trope in fairy tales is an object or creature offering someone three wishes.
In the Disney movie, the hero Aladdin makes noble wishes.
He wishes to be a prince, to be saved from drowning and to free the Genie, but in more traditional tales, there is often a catch and the wish backfires, sometimes in funny ways.
Making their wish demonstrates the character of the person, and often they are greedy, selfish or thoughtless.
These stories teach us that we should be careful what we wish for because our wishes may have unintended consequences.
We should be grateful for what we have and not be greedy for more.
It teaches us the importance of contentment and the consequences of greed.
Did you know, 'ask me for anything' is a question God sometimes poses to people and it has the same character-revealing effect.
In the Old Testament, Solomon, a young, inexperienced king, son of the very famous David, has inherited the huge responsibility of ruling a kingdom in a violent, unstable era.
God appears to him one night and asks him, 'What should I give you?'
Solomon could have asked for wealth, a long life, or the defeat of his enemies, but instead asks for wisdom so he can rule well.
God is pleased with his request and promises to give him what he asks for and more.
Jesus also often asks people, 'What do you want me to do for you?' Forcing them to confront what is really behind their request.
But unlike the genie, this question has no hidden catch.
The psalmist writes: 'Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart'.
Not empty fairy wishes, but an offer of real satisfaction and contentment found in trusting the God who wants the best for us.
'For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'
And God is still asking today, what do YOU want?
Wendy Atkinson
Andover Parish
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