Have you ever watched a child and smiled to yourself because you can see what they are thinking? 

I have. 

Sometimes we see kids weighing up a decision and we watch from the sidelines hoping they will make a good choice. We can see their minds ticking over, they are holding a pen and looking at the wall, ‘don’t do it’ we think to ourselves but we watch and wait. The lid comes off and the pen hits the wall and the drawing begins.

We intervene and lay down the law, “sorry mummy” comes out of a tiny little mouth with wide blue eyes looking into yours. How could you not forgive them, of course you do!

Two days the same thing happens again, and again and again.

You forgive over and over out of wholehearted love for your child. All you want is for them to follow your rules and do the right thing, and if they fall short all you want them to do is say sorry and try harder next time.

This is similar to the relationship we have with God, who is our father. He wants us to do the right thing, He is watching, He sees what we are thinking and is willing us on to do what we know is right but when we don’t, He is there waiting for us to say we are sorry and to try harder next time.  

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV)