Romans 13:1, Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

While I was running an errand on the other side of town, I decided none to wisely to stop into a furniture store to take a look at something I have been wanting to see in person. Looking at something through the filtered lens of a glossy computer image does not give proper perspective and a realistic view.

My choice was none to wise for I had my three year old in tow. I reasoned it out in my head that since I was already on this side of town, it would save me a trip back and perhaps give me the answers I was seeking. So, I stood at my child’s eye level and reminded her of the rule: the stay-with-me-or-we-will-leave-and-there-will-be-consequences rule. I took her little hand firmly into mine and glided through the automatic doorway.

Not three seconds after we got through the doorway, she let go of my hand and jumped on top of the first cushy spot that she spied. I took her hand again and glided her around the sofa to make our way to the back of the store where I needed to go. It was then that my daughter thought grabbing the glass bowl on top of the display coffee table would be a fantastic idea. Before the bowl hit the top of the table, she was in my arms and I was marching both os us back out of the automatic doors.

I was frustrated, my daughter was bawling. To the amusement of the elderly couple walking past me, my young child kept hollering for her Daddy. She knew I was upset with her behaviour and apparently thought the comfort of her Dad would somehow ease her suffering.

And though I was angry with her- and angry at myself for taking a bull into a china shop- I was somehow able to sympathize with her in my soul. There are times when I’ve screwed up by making a wrong choice or choosing wrong behaviour, and my soul would holler for my Heavenly Father knowing His comfort would somehow ease my suffering.

Even when I know that there are consequences for my actions.

It took a bit of time for my anger to simmer, and I tried my best to be a good parent by following through on my words. My child felt burdened knowing that something was not right between she and I. It was when I was able to deal with the problem, and then let it go, that she turned to me with her splotchy tear-streaked face and asked if I was happy again.

Even at the tender age of three, my young child can see that happiness is just emotion. Happiness is fleeting and has the ability to come and go like the winds of change. And my small child inherently knew that when the one in control is able to deal with the problem, then let it go, all is right in her world again.

I suppose that is how I feel when I have wronged God by being wise in my own eyes. Though there are consequences when I break the boundaries set before me, when the One who is in control is able to deal with the problem, then let it go, all is right in my world again.

Father, thank you that you never hold our confessed sins against us. Thank you that you meet us exactly where we are. May we always know that though there are consequences to our wrong actions, you never stop loving us and are always there to hold our tear-streaked face. Amen.


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