Running Ahead

Independence can be defined simply by looking at a toddler. My youngest son was the perfect example today. We had to run some errands at the mall, and I knew that I could not carry him and everything that I needed to purchase, so I asked my husband to bring our stroller along. Munchkin, our middle son, gladly jumped into the stroller even though he really did not need it still at five years old, but my precious little almost three-year old Pumpkin refused to get in. Throughout the afternoon, we struggled with him to stay in the stroller and to keep his seatbelt buckled.

Finally, I gave in. The packages were heavier than he was, and it seemed like it would be easier to just let him walk and push the stroller full of packages once again. He took his time exploring store windows and lagging behind, then he would look up, realize we had gotten ahead of him and come running full speed to catch up with us. Then he would get excited with something he saw ahead of us and would run ahead, paying no attention to anyone else around him.

His enthusiasm and passion were precious, but the mother heart in me kept skipping a beat as I saw all the danger that he did not even know he was narrowly missing. Tonight as I prayed, I realized that so often, this could be a picture of me as well.

How often do I actually walk beside my Savior? It seems like I am perpetually lagging behind because I am afraid of what may happen, or I am racing ahead excited that something fun is about to begin. But when do I enjoy the now? This is the day that the Lord has made. I want to rejoice in this day. Not worry about what happened in the past, or day dream unnecessarily about what might happen in the future. Just live in the moment. And in that sense, Pumpkin lived his day just right.

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*Photos from www.Flickr.com