I took my 18-month old daughter, Morgan, to our local library this evening. As she walked through the aisles, she reached out and ran her hand along the books and videos. The whole time, she was saying, "no, no, no...no, no, no..."
We have taught her not to pull the books and videos off the shelves, and yet she couldn't resist reaching out to touch them. She was being obedient, but just barely. You could see the gleam in her eyes as she kept looking up at me to see if the rules had changed.
How often we are like my daughter! We know the things in life that God has asked us to avoid, yet we cannot resist getting as close as possible without breaking the rules. The problem is... as we continually run our hands over the things we are to avoid, the desire to take the next step grows and grows. Every now and again, we look to our Father to see if he is still watching. Can I still not touch this? Have the rules changed yet?
One day, we can no longer resist, and we pull them off the shelves and cross the line of obedience.
Perhaps instead of running our hands along the "books" and "videos" of life, we should avoid them completely. Perhaps we should discover those things that our Father wants us to embrace and enjoy life as He intended.
Monday, July 17, 2006
No, no, no...
Posted by Chris Genders at 6:29 PM
2 comments:
I read this last night and found it so fitting in light of my job. The phrase "out of the mouths of babes" is so true. I think about where the time has gone, and how much information I have imparted upon hundreds of minds over the last 9 years. However, it's what I learn from them that I remember. The games, lessons, activities...those all fall by the way-side, but the stories and wisdom that I learn from my 10 year olds is what changes me and what gifts me with growth.
It's just proof positive that no matter how young, 18 months, or how old...we have the opportunity to learn and be inspired by all!
Love you!
~ So. Cali Love~ (my new pen name...I like it!)
PS - Glad you got your memory keepsake in the mail...it's the least I could do.
Let's not forget that she wouldn't have learned the lesson if you hadn't said "no" to help her know where the line was. Without the experience of crossing a line or two, we walk through life without fear or doubt. Fortunately life teaches us the better path in many ways.
Post a Comment