29: Things About Trusting God that I Learned From Being a Parent

If my daughters will be able to understand me fully, these are the things I will say to them:


1. Obey. Don't go there. I know the top of the stairs look exciting and you're sure that you'll get a certain high out of climbing it because, well, it IS high! But I have good reasons why you're not allowed to do that. One, you're only one year old and your little legs and arms won't be able to handle it. Chances are, one of your limbs will slip which will result to you bumping your chin or your shin (like what happened last time), or worse, falling totally and bumping your tender head on the cement floor.  Besides, you don't have a purpose for going up that flight of stairs you're just curious.  I will let you go up when you're ready and when there's a good reason for it (say, you're going to bed to sleep, or you're fetching a pair of shorts to change). But for now, when I put a barricade on the steep and narrow flight of stairs, it means it is not safe for you. I don't want you to get hurt.


2. Please stop whining and just wait. I'm not making you suffer just for fun. I have a very good reason why I don't want to give you your bottle of milk yet. You just drank a glass of juice then you're asking for milk right away? Do you know that when milk mixes with anything acidic, it will curdle because the proteins in the milk reacts with the blah blah blah blah .... In short, it might give you a tummy ache. I'll give you your milk after 30 minutes. Do you understand 30 minutes? So stop whining now because it is very annoying and chances are you will get the "palo" if you keep at it.


3. You know what, I can give you that lovely (and expensive)Walt DIsney book. However, it is meant for a 3-year old child. Your little fingers are still too clumsy to handle it with care. See, you already tore 6 pages out of it! You may be enjoying it right now, making scratch paper out of it but if you wait a bit more,you'll be able to appreciate those books to its fullest - and with all pages intact. For now, can we stick to your board books?


4. Eat the apple instead. The chocomallows may look good in all its brown rounded glory but you already ate one. Besides, it is not nutritious at all. If any, it will give you energy and cavities. So how about that apple? Trust me, it's way, way better for you.


Trust me. PLEASE TRUST ME.


That's what I kept on telling my daughter. In her very young and limited understanding, I am aware that she won't be able grasp all the deep reasons and good intentions I have for her. "Why can't you just give me my milk!?! Just give me my milk! I want it now!", she might be thinking. She may feel dejected or even unloved because I did not give her the requested bottle. But I know better. Little does she realize that she is going through that little (even senseless) suffering of hers ultimately because I love her and I want to protect her.


I realized that's what the Lord has kept on telling me - telling us. Now I understand how annoyed God was with the complaining Israelites. When our children start to get really whiny and noisy, then we know how God feels when we just can't trust Him to know what He is doing. Sometimes, because we are just too stubborn, He'll allow us to climb those stairs only to find ourselves tumbling down, stumbling upon our own gimmiks, clumsiness and immaturity. 

Thank you, Nanay.

If we only learn to let go. If we only learn what trust really entails. If we only submit and obey, then maybe, we'll be happier children.


Okay, 30 minutes have passed. Here's your milk. :-D