Teachable Moments
Ayla was flopping all over the couch today, each time becoming a little more reckless and when I saw that it was getting too dangerous, I told her to stop. Well what did she do? She tried it again, testing about the limits of daddy’s rules. But instead of sending her to the corner or talking with her about disobeying afterward, I had to react quickly before she fell headfirst onto the tile floor. I was able to snag her by the arm just in time, since she was halfway to the floor already, while letting out a cry of ‘Ayla!’. Then, with what grip I had, I pulled her back onto the couch, with less sensitivity than I would be able to under normal circumstances. Being shocked more than anything else, she started crying and I took her into my lap to comfort her.
After the tears subsided and I was able to talk to her, I told her how she needs to obey her daddy. How I tell her to stop doing things, not because I want to ruin her fun, but because I want her to be safe and have a long, happy life. I told her that I love her very much and sometimes she just needs to listen to me because I know that something painful might happen. Now, just as I was getting into the meat of what I was telling her, I realized that this exact speech could be one that God the Father would give to me or any one of his children.
He is not here to ruin our fun, but rather to love us and give us a long life, one that actually lasts into eternity thanks to the sacrifice of his Son. But do we listen? Most of the time the answer is no. We see what he tells us as robbing us of fun or what we think of as joy, but all the while it is for our good.
Nate
