When to Stop...

My son has a battery operated tractor he rides around the yard. He often rides it up the driveway to help me get the mail. Now our driveway is loooonnnggg. He sometimes rides ahead of me but always stops at the "tree line". He gets off the tractor and holds my hand as we near the street. I even go so far as to hold him as we take the mail out of the box so he won't be tempted to break my grasp. Yesterday was different.

He didn't stop at the tree line. He didn't stop as I called his name. He didn't stop as I screamed his name so loudly the whole street heard me. He didn't stop as I was running as fast as I could to stop him, even though he really wasn't that much ahead of me. He was just far enough out of reach....

He finally stopped about a foot away from the edge of the road. The very, very busy road. I don't think I have ever been so afraid of anything in my whole life. This could have ended badly. But praise God, he did stop. All I could do was grab him up in my arms and thank God for protecting my baby.

After recovering from my heart attack, G recovering from the punishment of not riding his tractor along with not being allowed to ride it to the mailbox again, and some serious prayer, God planted some ideas in my mind.

How many times did I hurdle toward something so dangerous, not caring about the voice telling me to stop? How many times did I do something because it looks great, not caring about the consequence? How many times has God Himself saved me from a terrible fate by stopping me at just the right time?

My son and I have since spoken about the importance of listening. And the importance of trusting. I need to be able to trust that he will follow my directions. Again, God laid it on me....do I listen to Him? Do I heed His warnings? Do I follow His directions? I had to be honest with Him, and myself, and admit that I don't always.

Dear God, please help me this day (and every day) to be mindful of Your voice. Give me ears to hear, eyes open to what You want me to see and a heart to obey. Help me to impart this lesson to my little one. And I thank You again and again for keeping us both safe.