CAREFUL

“Careful. Don’t touch that. It can burn you.” “Careful. You might fall off that chair.” “Be careful! Don’t go near the street.” We want our children to experience life, just not the things that might cause them pain. But are we ultimately instilling our own fear into their vulnerable hearts and minds? Are we teaching them to be “full of care?” Where is the balance?

Did you learn to be so careful that even a relationship with God seems fearful? I know I did. My childhood was so filled with pain that at age fourteen I promised myself that I would never be vulnerable again. I put up a wall against everyone, even God. My life was filled with the challenge of becoming “good enough” yet it held little joy.

Over the years, I have come to understand that God is anything but careful. He will never fit in our box of “definability”– He just cannot. So, we tend to shy away. If we will allow it, however, He will fit in our hearts. If we are willing to stop being careful with God, we can come to the place of agreeing with David:

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And heaven has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26

Joy to you this day.

Annette