The Apple Tree

She was standing in between the end table and I. On the end table was the baby monitor. On her other side was me with arms wide open. I had already told her firmly not to touch the baby monitor. I had even redirected her attention and tried to help her focus elsewhere, on me. So there I was kneeling beside her, saying her name, holding my arms open ready for an embrace...and she stood frozen rotating her gaze between the baby monitor and me every few seconds. She was Eve and there was a tree and there were apples and I never seen clearer evidence of the unseen tempter that exists to all human beings no matter their innocence or age. And then it hit me. Exactly how God feels...every single day with every single last one of us. Because He...He is the loving, safe parent who stands beckoning us with open arms yearning for this connection He's freely offering while drawing wise boundaries for us to live by. And we are little children standing there acting like there is a decision to be made. I could have saved her from making the wrong choice which she in the end did, but instead I allowed her to make the choice herself as an opportunity to learn. Because I wanted ultimately her to learn to know my voice, to listen to it, and to trust it. God is doing the same with you and I. If we will slow to hear His instruction, notice His open arms, and pop our puffed up self and stop believing we know any better way... Then and only then will we know the freedom and joy of connecting with a perfect heavenly parent who makes good out of all things surrendered to Him.