My two
youngest grandsons, Cole and Randy, are 18 months old ~ born just 10 days apart. They like nothing better than to run as fast as
their little legs will carry them, darting here and there, and exploring
everything they can, and as quickly as they can. Cole especially
takes delight in chasing seagulls along the water’s edge at the beach,
while Randy’s favorite pastime seems to be tormenting Maddie, my rather
obstinate cat, and playing catch with a big blue ball.
The problem here is that Randy and Cole are
only about 2 ½ feet tall. Their vision is very limited, and what
they do observe is seen as though they are wearing blinders. They
are only focused on what they so desperately want at that very moment,
and are completely oblivious to any danger around them. For
instance, Randy would never notice a big truck coming down the street;
he would only see the ball that rolled there when he threw it. And
Cole would only see the noisy seagulls nibbling on someone’s leftover
sandwich on the beach; not the college kids playing volleyball nearby,
who could easily crush him if he stumbled into the middle of their game.
This tender innocence can result in
somewhat exhausting power struggles, and at times I have to hold tightly
to their chubby little fingers as they attempt to free themselves from
my grip. And because they are so young, they don’t
understand that I actually know what is best for them at that moment in
time. Why? Because I can see the “big picture.” But
instead of accepting that, my grandsons squeal in frustration, and tug
on my arm as hard as they can tug. And if they could talk in
complete sentences, they would probably say, “Grandma! Let me go!
I thought you loved me and wanted me to be happy! LET ME GO!”
In many ways I am much like my
grandsons. When I was recently disappointed at how a personal
situation turned out in my life, I found myself questioning God’s
purpose. That is when it occurred to me ~ God sees the “Big
Picture!” And like I protect Randy and Cole by sometimes
preventing them from getting what they want and truly think they need,
(despite their angry protests) God does the same for me. But the
only way He can do that is if I let Him firmly hold my hand.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NIV
