Obedience

I have been challenged in new ways these past few days with getting a 2 year old to listen and do what I say. I have tried different methods of communicating and at often times she will not listen to anything I say. She will take all the paper of a toilet roll, try to flush a wash cloth, pour water all over the floor. She will ask for help only to decide she wants to do it on her own and will cry when I do it because she doesn't understand that I know what's best for her.

What a example of our relationships with our creator! How often do I run from God and decide "hey this is a good idea let me flush a wash cloth?" God calmly pulls me back and tells me no. Yet I continue to run from his presence thinking, "I'm an adult. I know what I am doing." But how often are we in reality just acting like a two year old in our relationship with him.

I had this realization recently as I tried to hold Amaya and watch a movie with her. She wanted to go and sit on the bed with Tessa and Jessie but when she did she would bite them. As a form of punishment, I told her she would sit in my lap and watch the movie until she could behave in the bed with them. She tried to run from me to be in her room by herself instead of watching the movie in my lap. What a clear picture of Christ. God tells us, come here let me hold you and I will keep you safe. I will calm you down. Here let's watch this movie together. I want to hold you in my arms. Yet, like the child we are - We are afraid and run away and choose a room full of darkness rather then enjoying the presence of God with us.

I pray for Amaya daily that she will learn to trust me. I pray she will learn that I care for her and I will keep her safe. I praise God for every small act of obedience that she does and the few moments of the day that she learns I care for her. I pray to God that he would keep me calm and teach me patience in how to love her every moment even as she screams and runs from me.