I've been hearing this bible story since I was a child, and it's only now that I came to realize how striking the story is.

Nothing grieves me more than seeing a mother in sorrow for her child. And here is a Canaanite woman asking help for her daughter (ang babaeng possessed, as my friend always kiddingly say). Jesus' reply was a bit harsh: She's not a Israelite, I won't help her, and even harsher in the next line pertaining to the woman as a dog.

But the woman was persistent: I am maybe a dog but I would settle for the crumbs for my daughter.

And Jesus' heart melted. Mine, too.

So let's start melting Jesus' heart by following the example of this woman.

One, she is a loving mother who would do anything for her daughter, even beg!

Two, she is persistent. Makulit!

Three, she's not perturbed by insults and would even wrestle her opinion through for her daughter's sake.

I believe that's what God wants from us when we ask Him something.

It should be borne out of love.

We should be willing to fight for it.

We should know why we want it and would be ready to reason with God why we deserve it.

Here's a story in real life: My niece asked me to buy her new shoes. I said no, she doesn't need it. She persisted. She showed me her old shoes. I said it's still working. She said it will be for the next three months and by then I will be back abroad and she has no one to ask money from. I said I will send the money after three months. She said I can give it to her now so she can buy the shoes, but she won't wear it until the old shoes are worn out. Her reasons were endless until I finally gave in but I reminded her what we agreed upon: she has to study harder and she can only use the new shoes after three months.

Prayer: Lord, bless us with the spirit of contentment. And if in case we start badgering you with what we want, please turn deaf on us unless of course we could wrestle with You in justifying why we want it. But You know better than us, so Thy will be done, Lord.