Our oldest son Noah likes to think he is a parent. He wants in on all adult conversation. He wants input in the disciplinary decisions regarding his brothers. He has a hard time just being a kid.
We go on a family walk/bike ride every day. The four boys will ride their bikes around the neighborhood and my husband and I walk behind them. This is usually a great time for us to catch up and let the boys burn off some energy. It never fails—every time we are in the midst of a conversation, Noah rides very slowly in an attempt to listen in and give his input. Often, he worries that his brothers are not doing what they should or he tries to give us his opinion on something going on with one of the other boys. Almost daily my husband has to say to him, “Buddy, I’m the dad. I’ve got this. Just go with your brothers and enjoy being a kid.”
Noah is so worried about trying to be in charge that he has a hard time just letting go, trusting us to make wise decisions, and enjoying the freedom of childhood.
As we were walking the other day and my husband had to say once again, “We’ve got this. Let me be the dad, you be the kid.” I immediately wondered if God feels the same toward us sometimes. How often does He look at me and say, “I’ve got this. Let me be the Father, you be My child.”
The truth is that God doesn’t need me to be in control. As much as I would like to be the one in charge, I am not. And often, I have no idea what is actually best for me. I would likely pick the easiest, most comfortable route, and that is often the exact opposite of how God draws me closer to Himself and conforms me into the image of Christ.
What would our lives look like if we stopped trying so hard to interfere with God’s plans, or give Him our opinions of what is best for us or so-and-so, and just let Him be our loving, heavenly Father? What if we rested in the fact that He is good and wise and loving and kind and gives only good gifts to His children? What if we stopped worrying and trusted Him completely? What if we let Him be the Father and we enjoyed being His kid?
About Kristy Bruce
Kristy is the wife of Kenneth Bruce, student pastor at Westwood Baptist church in Alabaster, Alabama. She is a stay-at-home mother to her four sons, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia. Kenneth and Kristy are currently in the process of adopting a daughter from India. Kristy enjoys writing and has a passion for teaching the Word of God and helping women go deeper in their faith.
