Since my nephews were very young my family has taken a week long vacation to the coast each autumn.  The schedule generally includes a walk along the beach at least once a day.

One evening the women decided to take a stroll down the beach after dinner.  My youngest nephew, at that time about four years old, desperately wanted to tag along.  His mother, however, knew that minutes into the walk he would be whining and begging to have her carry him.  She told him he could not come unless he understood that the entire walk was under his own power.  He promised that he understood and he would walk on his own two legs the whole walk.

Of course we were less than a forth of the way into our walk when he began complaining about being tired, holding his mothers hand, dragging on her, talking about how his legs were aching, moaning, then crying.  His mother held firm and made him walk on his own.  Now he was angry.  His tears came harder and he was striking out through his words about how nobody cared about him.

We continued on our walk, ignoring his tantrum.  Suddenly we heard the angry declaration behind us, “What kind of vacation is this, anyway!”  Of course we all burst out laughing.

I wonder how often we seem similar to God.  We know the rules going in, make promises to God and then get angry with him when he stands firm?

Lord, help me see your love and provision. Help me to understand that if I’m angry at you, it is because I’ve failed and not that you have failed me.

Karen Sleeth

Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 26 years and in her house for nine years. She shares her yard with a herd of about fourteen deer, a raccoon, a family of possum, a hawk and her young, a wise old owl, many birds, snakes, and a bunny she has seen only once. “I assume it took the warning I gave ‘Run for your life!’” This is Karen’s first year attempting to convince the deer that the yard is not their salad bar. Karen is a member of Christian Assembly Church in Durham.