Why is brushing your hair and teeth so painful when you are five?

Every morning around 8 am my five year old and I have a battle between her knotted hair and my hair brush.  She usually screams in agony as I try to, as gently as possible, remove the knots and tangles that her pillow has created.  I would like to report that this is the only daily task that reduces her to a puddle of tears, but sadly I cannot.  She usually loses it over brushing her teeth with toothpaste, which she claims is "too spicy" even though I have purchased the kid's watermelon or strawberry flavor, washing her hair and eating most vegetables.  Not sure why, but she seems to be protesting any process that produces cleanliness and health.  If it were up to my litttle lady she would leave the house unbrushed, unwashed, sporting her mismatched pj's and a pair of flip flops...stinky yet comfortable.

As I consider this current stage in her life, I look at my own walk with Christ.  I think sometimes I must sound very much like my angry five year old.  "Pray Danielle, read your Bible Danielle, wash in the daily cleansing of my word"....yet I protest.  I allow other daily tasks to take the place of the most important...connecting with God through spending time in his word and prayer.  When I start my day spending time with God, I am encouraged, filled up, ready to take on the day...when I don't, I am tangled, mismatched, frustrated easily, reduced to a puddle of tears by minor glitches in my daily routine. 

I've tried to explain to my five year old the long term effects of not brushing her teeth and not combing her hair; a toothless, tangled future.  As I negotiate yet again the morning routine, I start to consider the long term results of not developing daily time with my lord and savior.  Maybe I will have all my teeth and my hair won't be tangled, but I will not grow spiritually. I will become weak and frail, and I will miss out on the abundant life God has planned for me. 

This week's goal:  Spend time with God daily...and get my mini me to cooperate in cleanliness without too much protesting.  Pray for me.