Don't pick the Flowers. Don't take the Rocks.

Recently our family visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but before we ventured out, we stopped at the visitor's center, walked through their museum, and picked up some literature.

They must have know we were coming and bringing with us a flower loving 4 year old, because it was nearly impossible to overlook the signs and notices reminding visitors NOT to pick the flowers.  And while the actual rule in the literature read, "Picking plants or removing any object from the national park is prohibited," our girls struggled to grasp the concept.

Me: Remember, you cannot pick any flowers.

Child: Can we take a pretty rock?

Me: No

Child: What if it is really small?

Me: No

Child: What about a piece of grass?

Me: No

Child: What about a piece of dirt?

Me: No

Child: That doesn't make sense.  Dirt isn't worth anything.  Just exactly how small a thing can we take?

Me: Perhaps you misunderstood.  You are not allowed to take anything from the park.

Child: But we can if it is really small, because no one will know, and it isn't stealing, because it isn't worth anything.

I remember exactly where I was standing and where my daughters were sitting when this conversation took place - outside of a restroom on a rock within the park - because I had a personal epiphany at that very moment.  Do I talk to God this way?  Do I rationalize my sin and make plans to disobey God because I think I know better than He does?  Sadly, I have, and sometimes I still do!

There are many who think that being a mother is hard because it is exhausting and full of self sacrifice.  Those parts are definitely true.  But for me, being a mother is hard because I see my sinful self in my children.  There are times when I look at them and shake my head.  How could they be so foolish and misunderstand so much about this world?  As I shake my head at my children, I'm certain God shakes His head at me.  Yet, I patiently teach them, just as God is continuously and patiently teaching me.

Sin is so sneaky.  And while my eldest daughter is quite discerning and loves God very much, it saddened me that she would be so far off in this particular situation.  Then again, she is only 8 years old and here I am nearing 40 still making similar mistakes in my spiritual walk.  But God gives us room to fail, to sin, to be wrong.  Thankfully, He also gives us His Word to set us straight.

I reminded my girls that when the rule says we cannot take anything from the park, we don't take it as a challenge to see what we can get away with.  We don't try to bend the rules to fit our desires.  We follow the rules as best as we possibly can, because we are reflections of Christ in a dark world. 

As Christians we follow God's Law.  It is true, sometimes we don't always understand, and yet we obey.  Sometimes our desires try to lead us astray, and yet we obey.  Why do we obey?  Because we love Christ and are devoted to the Father.  Our heart's desire should always be to please Him and not ourselves.

John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commands.

Psalm 119:112 - My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.