Yesterday evening, we took our boys and went for a walk around the neighborhood. The boys rode their bikes while Jess and I walked along behind. Eventually when we had gotten a good distance from the house, I suggested we turn around because we still had to go all the way back home. They argued that they weren’t tired and wanted to keep going, I told them that once they got headed back that they would probably get tired, but they assured me that they would be fine and against my better judgment, they pushed on. You probably see where this is headed. About halfway back home, the little one got tired. He wanted me to carry him and his mother to carry his bike for the rest of the way back. We did briefly, but I realized he wasn’t thoroughly tired, instead he had just gotten to the point where the ride wasn’t as fun as it once was. So, I put him back down and told him he needed to be a big boy and keep riding. He was mad. It was obvious. He rode his bike very slowly, looking straight ahead, and if a 3 year old could say “Go to hell” in a look, I’m pretty sure that’s what he was saying. Regardless, he kept riding and eventually got over it. However, when we were about a block from home, he looked up at me and said, “Daddy, will you please carry me? I’m tired.” This time, I knew he was actually tired. I could see it in his eyes. So, I picked him up, Jess grabbed his bike, and then I had a small conversation with him that went something like this: “Carter, remember that ugly look you gave me when I made you keep riding your bike earlier?” “Yes” “Why did you look at me like that?” “Because I was mad at you”, he replied. “Well, you need to remember the next time that you look at me like that, well…eventually, you’re going to want my help…eventually you’re going to still ask me to carry you home…and I will, because I’m your dad and I love you, but it makes me sad when you look at me in such a mean way.” “Ok, I’m sorry.” He replied with a sad look on his face. Immediately, God revealed a parallel to me about my own walk and my Father/son relationship with Him. How many times do we tell God we know what we’re doing, that we can handle it, that we know the path better than Him, and assure Him that we can make it back home. How many times do we realize how wrong we were, ask God to help, yet when He doesn’t respond in the fashion we think He should, get mad and spiritually give Him that same look Carter gave me? Only to find that in the end, when we were TRULY tired, that He picks us up and carries us that last little bit home. I hope you remember God’s love for you. I hope you never give up hope in Him. I hope you know that He will carry you home. Maybe not in the timing you think it should be, but He is there, and He made a promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. Keep pushing toward the mark! Keep striving for the goal! Have a great 4th of July, everyone! Share this if you’ve been encouraged so you can be an encouragement to others!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:29:33 +0000
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