I could see it coming and I warned him, but he just wouldn't listen...
My grandson loves the water so he's always up for a bath and I just happen to have a great tub. Being cast iron, I like the fact that it keeps the water warm for a good, long soak. The little guy likes it because it's deep enough for him to splash to his heart's content without getting water all over Grandma's bathroom (or maybe that's another reason I like it...)
At nineteen months old, he's fascinated with anything that moves - switches to flip, levers to pull, buttons to push (which is how my phone came to "speak" Spanish), a kitty to "love", and his most recent discovery, handles to turn.
I told him not to touch them, but who wants to listen to some killjoy when there's something so enticing before you? While he is too young to understand the wisdom of listening to someone more experienced, he's not too young to understand the word "No." Still, he went ahead, grabbed one of the handles and gave me a cute little grin that said, "Are you going to do anything about it or not?"
Since it was the cold water handle he was grasping, I chose "not."
Looking at me with his hand on the handle (and his head was directly under the faucet) he slowly pushed it up. Instantly a shocked look appeared on his face as he was doused with cold water!
I admit, I had to laugh at the look on his face as I quickly turned the water off. And do you know what he did next? Yep, he doused himself again.
And again! I guess he's a slow learner like his grandma...
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ~ Hebrews 5:11
Have you ever been there? God tells you not to do something and you know there will be consequences for caving in to that temptation or cutting that corner or fill-in-the-blank, but you give in to your impulses and are rewarded with a shocking dose of reality.
Then you do it again, thinking maybe this time it'll turn out differently. I believe that's one of the definitions of insanity - doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome - but haven't we all been there at one time or another?
God has given us commands to live by but He's also given us free will, which is what gets us into trouble. While He could intervene at any time, often He allows us to incur the natural consequences of our actions when we choose not to listen to His counsel. We plead with God to remove the consequences, but without them would we ever learn?
Believe it or not, my little guy grabbed the faucet handle for a fourth time. He looked at me, looked at the handle, looked back at me...and let go! What my words didn't teach him, consequences did. And the next bath? He didn't even go near the faucet!
Lord, forgive me for the many times I've pushed ahead and did things my way rather than follow your instructions. While the consequences are never pleasant at the time, I thank you that you love me enough to do whatever it takes to get me back on the right path. Help me to be quick to learn so that I may deepen my relationship with You.
Lisa
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It sounds like my own heart, always wanting to go my own way. I'm so thankful for a gracious shepherd who leads me back. And what a cute grandson!
Love this! What a great story and perfect example. :)
What a great story! (And cute grandson!) Thanks for linking up to FFF!
A great teaching story. Human nature--so like a child's even when we are adults.
You're a good grandma. :-) Love the pictures too. I'm like your grandson; I often have to learn the hard way. So glad God is patient and knows exactly which lessons it's safe for us to learn like that.
What a great story. My mom used to tell me that sometimes you just have to fall on your bottom before you learn! =)
Holly
What an excellent story - I love that he learned from his actions rather than your words.
Thanks so much for linking up :)
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
Great story! Sometime ya gotta fall flat on your face...those are the best learned lessons. Thanks for linking up!
~SimplyyMayra of
PonderWonders @ www.simplyymayra.com
A lesson finally learned. We too read a book, or watch a movie and hope the ending will be different this time. Perhaps he too thought this can't be happening - so I must try it again! We are like that too sometimes. Thank you for sharing at "Tell Me a Story."
Good sharing of childhood example and life-long aspects that fit into most of us. [Glad it wasn't the hot faucet and that you wouldn't have had time to grab him fast enough. He'd have learned a LOT, very fast, but the consequences could have been a heartbreaker.]