Life with two littles is full of good-natured chaos, phrases I never thought I’d need to say, and a new awareness of potential danger. When Lucy started crawling at six months, we babyproofed our home. We put cabinet locks over our cleaning supply storage. We bought outlet covers and moved anything breakable out of reach. When Lucy began to walk, we made measured decisions about when she could have freedom to roam and when she needed to be contained. In the back yard, she could freely play, but often she got carried. Each Sunday morning, my husband would escort Lucy from the Student Center across the street to the Preschool building. He always ensured that she was walking furthest from the street, and lifted her into his arms to cross the unpredictable traffic of UTA Blvd. Still to this day, I watch their routine and think- goodness, what a good father. As parents who love our children, we put intentional thought into what is accessible to them.

This past week, I took my two children for a quick dinner at Chick Fil A before a high school football game. I got two-year-old Lucy out of the car and went around to get baby Theodore. As soon as I picked him up, I realized we had a problem… he had a blowout! So, there we were in a busy parking lot, changing out of a very dirty diaper into clean clothes, pulling all the emergency supplies out across the passenger seat. And it was at that very inconvenient moment that my very silly girl took the opportunity to bolt. It was a game. She wanted me to chase her!

But she ran directly into a very dangerous place. I was able to quickly grab her and pull her into the safety of our parking space. I firmly repeated to her that we NEVER run in parking lots. She is to always walk right beside me. She sheepishly repeated it back to me and stayed close. I don’t like being stern and serious, but I absolutely will be to keep my girl safe.

You see, Lucy couldn’t see what I could see. She didn’t know what I know.

She could only see what was right in front of her. I could see all the traffic around us.

She’s never known pain beyond a scraped knee. I have seen and experienced car accidents.

Isn’t it the same with God? While he calls us to walk with him, we want to run into the street. While he calls us to holy living, we would rather be reckless. So often in our students I see that same mischievous look that Lucy had. We want to flirt with danger, throw caution to the wind, and have impulsive fun. YOLO- you only live once! Carpe diem!

We can’t see the things that God sees. We don’t know the things that God knows. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

While the pursuit of holy living may appear to be boring or restrictive, it’s quite the opposite. James 1:15-17 is clear that living in sin leads to death. In contrast, every good and perfect gift is from God! Like a good father who intentionally guides his children into goodness, our God loves us enough to lead us into goodness! When we walk with God, we walk away from darkness and death, into light and abundant life. When we walk with God, we find purpose in even the smallest things, making everyday things meaningful encounters of God’s grace. John 10:10 says “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

When Lucy finally walked with me, she was able to enjoy very good things- chicken nuggets and soft serve ice cream! When we walk with God, trusting that He sees what we can’t, we are able to experience and participate in all the goodness He has planned. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Our God sees the big picture and loves us enough to call us to Himself and to guide us to goodness. What a good Father.