I bet God has days like these...

I have such a hard time with my "middle child". He's been a different kid for about the last 6 months. He used to be so loving, so eager to please, so warm and friendly, but lately he's just ANGRY !

I tell him not to do something and he deliberately disobeys - and even preceeds his statements with, "I already know I'm grounded, but it's worth it..." Since when is punishment a choice instead of a consequence of disobedience? Honoring his mother and father has gone out the window these days and I don't really know how to fix it.

Then it hits me - I bet God has days like these. He tells us the family rules and we choose to disobey just about every day. We know we should love others unconditionally, speak only words that build others up, don't touch forbidden things, be a good steward of what we've been given, and not complain about what we don't have. Yet, every day we also break our Father's rules, don't we? At least, I know I do.

As exasperated as I feel after a verbal bout with Middle Child, I bet God also gets frustrated with us. I'm sure He asks Himself why we can't just obey and be thankful for what we DO have.
I think maybe that's why we're given children, to understand our relationship with God in a real way.

So, if it helps me relate to my Father, and understand what He goes through with me, then I guess the learning experience is worth the struggles on the journey.