"Adults Always Have a Reason"

Sometimes as parents we need to intentionally teach some life lessons, and sometimes they just happen.  And inevitably, when the kids find a life lesson, I find one too.

Last night after dinner, we were all getting ready to head out to the grocery store.  Caleb asked Travis if we could ride our bikes there, and Travis explained that we couldn't because it was dark out.  A little while later, Justin asked if we could ride our bikes, and Travis repeated that we couldn't, it was dark and we don't have lights for our bikes.  As we were all heading out the door, Justin -ever persistent- asked again about riding bikes.  So for a third time, Travis reinforced what he already said about the dangers of riding bikes in the dark without a light, and explained that it is against the law to do so.

As we headed to the grocery store, we approached a busy intersection and suddenly saw a van squarely hit a bike rider in the middle of the street. 
Screeching tires.
Bike clattering to the street.
Rider sprawling to the ground.
The boys watched wide-eyes as Travis stopped and hurried out to help collect her bike and help the young woman to the side of the road.  She was able to walk away from the accident, thankfully, and we soon continued on to the grocery store, but it shook us all up a bit to witness that.  Travis was talking to me about how the driver was not at fault because she couldn't see the bike without a light crossing on the wrong side of the street.

As we pulled into the parking lot, Caleb thoughtfully stated, "So THAT'S why we can't ride our bikes in the dark!"  It was a powerful lesson regarding what they had just been asking for.  But then, as we climbed out of the van, Ethan reflected, "Grown ups always have a reason for what they say."   

Then he repeated himself more firmly, "Grown ups always have a reason for what they say." 

It caught my attention that he repeated himself, but what gripped my heart was the look on his face when he said it.  He had a smile and look on his face that said he was resting in the confidence the he could trust what his adults -his parents- say.  He believed that there is an important reason behind what we say and he can trust us and the boundary lines that we draw for him.  (I didn't explain in that moment that adults don't always have a reason for what they say! -there was a bigger lesson being learned here.)

Later that night, I was thinking about the look on Ethan's face when he made his statement, and I kept thinking of David's words in Psalm 16.

  "Your boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places...

I have set the Lord always before me. 

Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

 my body also will rest secure." 

Psalm 16:6a,8-9  

Like Ethan, David was content and happy with the boundaries and the guidance given by his Guide.  I continue to be struck with the similarities of the feeling of safe surrender between child to parent and of man to God.  God has a reason for where and how He draws His lines, whatever and wherever they are.

Just as Ethan felt content and safe with what his "adults" tell him, and was willing to follow on faith that they know what they are talking about, I want to be like that with my Father.  I want my heart to smile with the same contented look of pleasure that Ethan's face shone with when he realized that "adults always have a reason for what they say."