Sunday Reflections...

     Sundays are a good day for reflection. I was thinking about my job, working with one to two year olds. It's crazy. There are always getting into all sorts of trouble. We tell them "walk". They smile and repeat the word. And then run across the room, trip, fall and have a meltdown. And I'm over there like "What did I just say? Did I not just tell you?" Two of them thought I would be fun to climb into the toy box and then sit there surrounded with their choice of play items. I pulled them out so many times in a row telling them "No, this is not a party bin. Go find somewhere else to play." They could hurt themselves trying to get in there. And they kept trying, and I kept stopping them until we were all frustrated. One of them sat down and cried because I wouldn't let them have their own way. And I just stood there and watched them without a shred of sympathy.

     I'm the teacher. I know best. Don't do this or you're going to get hurt. And if they persist on doing it and get hurt, I'm there to pick them up and dry their tears. But what kills me is when they go and do the exact same thing over again as if they're going to get different results. "Don't run," I remind them once they are thoroughly calmed after their first episode. They may walk for a few seconds, but then they run again, probably to fall over a stray toy or to run into someone smaller than them...If only they would listen!

     But then I started thinking...what about God? What if that's they way that he sees us humans? "Don't run," he says. Don't try to get ahead of His timing or we'll mess things up. But we do it anyways, fall on our face and come limping back to him humiliated. "Don't climb in that toy box," he says. "Those are not for you. I have something different for you." But we keep trying and trying and throw a fit when we can't have our on way, all the while unaware that He has something much better for us. He's the Creator. He knows best. Don't do this or we're going to get hurt. But instead of listening we choose to do things the hard way. And And instead of losing His patience as I'm inclined to do, He offers us love, mercy and grace. Now isn't that a good thought.

     I just hope I'm not like one of those who just keeps doing the same thing over and over and over...cause that's embarrassing...