Playing in the Street

Tires squealed and the blue Ford Fusion came to a halt as the young girl darted out in front of the car.  He came to a complete stop, leaving black skid marks in the road, successfully avoiding hitting the child.  I couldn't help but be startled as this took place right in front of me while I checked our mailbox at the end of the court.  The young lady driving jumped out to make sure the small child was all right, who by this time had run crying, frightened into her own mother's arms.  As the driver attempted to talk with the the child's mother, the young lady started yelling at her for almost hitting her daughter.  The driver then explained that she was going the speed limit and just didn't expect to see a child playing in the street.  The mother continued to yell and told the young child the driver was a bad, bad lady.  The woman just shook her head, got into her car, and left, as the woman yelled obscenities at the driver (in front of her daughter).  I walked back to my home asking myself, "Did that really just take place?"

Then, of course, I thought about MY parents.  I remember once when we were small, my sister crossed the street, which my siblings and I had all been taught NOT to do.  But she deliberately disobeyed.  And I remember my mother was very angry, and she scolded her, and my sister cried.  I remember, because I remember being sad for my sister.  But my mother scolded her because she loved her.  Had my sister been in the middle of the street, about to get hit by a car, and my mother yelled, "I don't want to offend you or anything, or hurt your feelings if you disagree with me or anything, but you are about to get killed by a car honey, but I love you!"   What kind of a parent would she have been?   But no, she scolded and corrected her FIRST in order to protect her, and THEN, she reminded her of her love.

God does the very same with us.  Often times, we don't enjoy the chastisement, the consequences of our decisions that we know are not good ones.  But He is a better parent than we will ever know how to or be capable of being, and He loves us enough to protect us, just like my mother protected my siblings and I, by setting rules, and by correcting us when we broke them.  It was all because she loved us.

Hebrews 12:6 says "For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

I am praying tonight that the young mother who yelled at the driver of that car, realizes she acted in haste.  I'm praying she loves her daughter enough to correct her when she needs to protect her, instead of allowing her to think that she is always right, and the other person always wrong.  That's a problem in society these days - No one wants to accept responsibility.  Sometimes, we need some direction, some correction, someone who cares about us to warn us that WE are about to get hit by a truck head-on!

I'm examining my own reactions tonight to some of the warnings I have received in the past.  I believe there is one person I need to call and say "Thank you" to - Whose warning I did not accept at the time, but later came to realize (through consequences), that she was right all along.  I had originally taken offense at her advice.  I found it harsh at the time, because I wanted my way.  But now, I realize she gave me that advice because she genuinely cared about me.  (Actually, I knew all along she cared about me.  I just wanted to do things MY way!).

And I also think I need to realize that some of the warnings that I give to people I care about, also will not be accepted, but that's okay too.  I'm not much different than they are with the Lord sometimes.  In fact, I think if we're honest with ourselves, we're all a little like that at times, wanting to do things OUR way, rather than trusting His plans, His way, His direction....

Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me, for your protection, your mercy, your grace, and for being a loving and protective Father.  Thank you for disciplining me and accepting me as your child!