The Outer Limits
a devotional by Rhonda Rhea
My sister Gina mourned the day her youngest son was too big to fit into the grocery cart. It wasn't one of those "my baby is growing up" mourning things. It was more like a prayer: "Lord, help us - Jake is free."
My four-year-old nephew makes shopping an adventure. On one trip, I watched Gina gather trail mix, coloring books, toys - enough equipment for an African safari. I noticed she had rope in the trunk. But I didn?t ask questions. I was just relieved she stopped short of tranquilizer darts.
One of the most interesting things about Jake is that he has lived all four of his years with no self-imposed boundaries. You know that sense that says, "Hey, this might not be a good idea?" Jake doesn't have that. He lives unencumbered by bothersome restrictions - pushing the outer limits to the max.
At the store, for instance, he lost us on the produce aisle. By the time we found him, there were six bites out of four apples and he was stuffing grapes in his mouth like it was nobody's business. I made a mental note: weigh Jake before shopping. Then they can weigh him on the way out of the store and pay by the pound. I had to make another note later: this plan will not work if Jake swallows coins from under the deli counter.
You should've seen the cute, blonde tornado tossing mega-boxes of Ding Dongs into the cart (okay, I encouraged that one). But then he poked little holes in the plastic wrap covering the hamburger. By the time we managed to grab him, he had already punctured six two-pound packages. (If you?re hungry for burgers, stop by my sister's place.)
Next he found some balls in the toy section and starting chucking them in every direction. He clipped one shopper in the ear and grazed another on the forehead. He pulled a plastic bowl out of the cart, put it on his head and made a break for the pharmacy. He was already stuffing the extra balls into the blood pressure cuff when we caught up. By then I was ready to re-visit the tranquilizer dart issue.
It's not that Jake isn't actively learning about restrictions. He's lived most of this year in time-out. Then there's that little paddle with a permanent Jake-bun print on it. Some of us learn boundaries the hard way.
We've all had trouble with boundaries from the beginning. God said to Adam in Genesis 2:16, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden." He gave perfect freedom. But then he also gave the boundaries when he said, in essence, "but not that tree over there."
There is sweet freedom inside the boundaries God has set up for us. But when we step outside of those boundaries, OUCH! Our Heavenly Father lovingly disciplines his children. Most of us need a reminder now and then that it's much more pleasant to live within his limits. His boundaries make life sweet.
By the way, I'm planning another visit to my sweet sister's soon. I'm bringing rope.
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