I love how God sometimes uses the ordinary, everyday to give us a huge message.
Mary-Grace is becoming quite independent. She runs all over the place and rarely looks back for me. We have a rule in parking lots and near streets - she has to hold my hand. She often doesn't like this and does everything in her power to yank her hand from mine. This usually results in her telling me "No!No!" while I hold tightly to her wrist. When I'm not carrying Hannah, I pick her up and remind her that if she isn't going to hold my hand in the parking lot then she can't walk.
There is one exception to her independence - steps. Particularly (because that's the one she encounters daily) the step from our garage into our laundry room. Every time we arrive home from wherever we've been for the day, I take her out of her carseat and let her walk to the door while I get Hannah. Without fail, every single time, when she gets to the door to the laundry room she puts one foot up and then reaches her hand back for me. She doesn't turn her head back to see if I'm there, she knows I will be. She just holds out her hand for me to take so I can help her.
The other day we were going about our regular routine. After returning from storytime she put that one foot up on the step, and held out her little hand for me to take. It was then that it hit me, God does the same for me. When I hold out my hand, God takes it and leads me. I often go running in my own direction. I try to be independent and think that I don't need help. I'm often like my little Peanut in the parking lot. Resisting my Father's helping hand. But every now and then I realize that I need help, I need God (I only wish I realized this more often). I don't have to look back to see if he is there. I can simply hold my hand out and he'll take it. He will always be there, anticipating my need just as I do for my children.
