Nowadays, there is a way to child proof our houses from wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling. If there is a potential danger, there is a lock, or some plastic contraption that even most adults will have trouble bypassing. All parents approach this differently; there are the hyper-vigilant parents that even lock their refrigerators and the parents who might have most of their outlets covered. I would say I fall somewhere in the middle, along with most people I know.
But really, as good as most of these safety measures are, someday our children will have to learn that there is danger in drinking a gallon of bleach or playing with the steak knives. Kids eventually become smart enough or even just tall enough to get into whatever they want to and we hope by that point that they can make the right decision or that we are there to stop them.
I think we live in a world that is accustomed to these safety precautions. We all want things that are not good for us to simply be out of our reach or to be locked away so we don't have to face a moment of "big kid" decision making or even worse, waiting for an answer.
How many times have we said prayers like, "God, if you don't want me to take this job, just let them reject me."? It would be nice if the right door was the only one that was open all the time. While kids are frustrated by the child-proofing in general, they love when doors are open to them. An open door is our way of saying, "Go on. It's safe here." Somedays, I still wish that every open door was a good and safe option, but unfortunately, it's not always that clear.
One of the things I dread most as a parent of two very mobile toddlers is going to a house that not only doesn't child proof the medicine cabinets and outlets but it's like they are tempting my children to turn the night into an ER visit or to break their most priceless antiques. They take great-great-grandmas, one of a kind, china doll and place it on the lowest shelf...right next to a tub of toys. Obviously, they mean for my kids to play with the tub of toys, but that is only obvious to everyone over 4 ft tall. So, I sit for a nervous vigil over my children, hoping that my voice is enough to keep them from danger and folly.
And really, eventually that needs to be enough. The voice of the Father, in our ears, leading our every step and directing us where to go, or where not to go. That, and the voice of experience telling you certain things are bad for you and have consequences that you don't want to have to deal with. Just like children must learn to obey our voices and stay away from known dangers, we have to come to a place of maturity in which we learn to wait on God when things aren't clear and walk away when we know that it would be a mistake.
Fortunately, we have a promise that He will always lead us. Isaiah 30:21 says, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Believe today this Word is true in your life and don't feel afraid to move forward--even when there are no more child proofs.
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