One morning, during my daily bicycle ride, I followed the usual trail. At one point along my route there is a .2 mile loop. On my path around the loop, one man was with his young son. Most mornings I see him exercising with his daughter, but today he was guiding his three-year-old on his miniature bicycle.
As I passed them, I noticed that the son was oblivious to his father’s directions and helping hand. The father, however, made sure that the child was supported and protected from falling, and pulled out of the way as I rode past him. Each time I passed the pair, the same gentle touch was there—protecting, guiding, and guarding.
I could not help but be struck by the similarity between that scene and the way God works in our lives. Like that father, God is guarding, guiding, and protecting us. And like the child, we are often unaware of the hand of the Father in our affairs because we are so busy looking around and involved with the world. We may not acknowledge or appreciate God’s loving care, but He is always there. This image stayed with me the rest of the day and reminded me to listen for God’s voice and acknowledge His guiding hand.
