Conversation In A Bathroom

I heard them talking.
We were all in the public bathroom at the store with the bulls eye on the front.
I knew that the young mother was hoping to use the large handicap stall, but it was occupied.
Those larger stalls are such a blessing to mothers with small children.

I could hear the mother and her young child talking as I was at the sink.
I climb under there, Mommy!
No, don’t climb under there! The mother said with exasperation.
Why?

I smiled as I listened.
I was very familiar with the famous, Why, question that every young child asks.
Because bathrooms are dirty, the mother explained.
Why?

I knew that this conversation was going to go on for quite a while.
I have walked where this mother is walking.
Young children are curious; there is a whole world at their fingertips ready to explore.
However, a public bathroom may not be the best place to go exploring.

Don’t touch that! The mother said.
Why?
Get off the floor! The mother said with emphasis.
Don’t open that, it’s dirty, the mother continued.

I smiled because I could picture all the things that were tempting to those little hands.
No, don’t touch that flush, the mother said with an edge to her voice.
I admit I washed my hands a bit longer than usual.
I wished there was some way I could have helped the young mom.

After all the words of caution, and hearing Do Not Touch over and over, the little child spoke.
I listen, Mommy!
I listen!
Yes, you are a good listener, the mother said.

The young mom was tired.
The young mom was not able to take care of her own simple needs without interruption.
She had her little helper with her.
She had a curious child with her who was still learning about the world.

I left before the mother and child exited the bathroom stall.
I thought about their conversation.
That same conversation happens every day when you are with young children.
The same things are repeated over and over until they take root.

Don’t touch!
The stove is hot!
Don’t put that in your mouth!
Wash you hands!

I am sure to little ears, life is a series of, No’s.
I am sure to little hands, life is a series of things that cannot be touched.
How do we train our children to be safe without making them terribly afraid?
How do we teach them healthy caution concerning the things we know are harmful?

Sometimes, no matter how many times you repeat something, a child will do it anyway.
I remember going out for brunch one Mother’s Day when my children were little.
The buffet was lovely; the chafing dishes were filled with all the things they loved.
The Sterno was lit under each chafing dish.

It was appropriate to tell the younger ones not to touch the flame.
They could see it and they knew the fire was hot.
However, the warning did not seem to extend to the dish itself.
What was obvious to me in my adult mind was not obvious to my little son.

In his attempt to see what was inside each dish, my youngest son touched the chafing dish.
It was only a split second touch, but enough to hear his loud wail.
His little fingertips were red.
I remember the staff ran to get wet paper towels to wrap his little fingers.

Don’t touch and Hot were known warnings, but, it is a big world out there.
Warnings are never contained in just this one scenario here.
The admonitions expand to the world at large.
Maturity helps a child understand.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5)

As I pushed my shopping cart around the store, I thought of the mother and child.
I knew that conversation so well.
I had said those same words to my own children.
I have also been the child, hearing words of caution.

God the Father talks to us through His Word.
There are warnings.
There are admonitions.
There are promises of assurance.

Unlike us, God does not get tired or weary.
However, God will reach a point where He turns us over to ourselves if we fail to listen to Him.
Can you hear us as we talk to God?
I listen, Father! I listen!

Do we?
Do we listen to God’s Word when it is easy and dismiss God’s Word when it is hard?
When we listen, do we obey?
Does our curiosity get the best of us as we try to grab onto every shiny thing that comes our way?

God places us in families so that His Kingdom grows and brings Him glory.
God places us in families so that we have a better idea of His love as our Heavenly Father.
The things our children say and do to us, we say and do to Him.
We defend ourselves and tell Him we are good listeners, when we really know otherwise.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

Listening is important.
Obeying after we listen is crucial.
I am a good listener, Father!
We are, if we do what He says.