I was observing a beautiful little toddler learning to walk under the watchful eyes of the father. She took a couple of steps and fell down. The father just looks at her and she stood up by herself and walked again. Again, she fell and pick herself up each time. She neither cry or scream when she fell, but just finds some way to help herself get up. Her father, meanwhile, continued to keep a watchful eye but did not help.

I could see that we allowed our children to fall and pick themselves up when they were younger as we deemed it the right thing to do. My question to myself was that why we do not allow them, as they grow older, to make mistakes in order for them to learn. As doting parents, we tend to want to put our children in glass houses, well protected. Or is it because we have a hidden agenda of having them ‘fulfil our unfulfilled dreams’? The way they dress, the schools they choose, or even the spouse that they intend to have. These are some of the matters that we parents interfere, causing much frustrations in our children. Something for us to think about.

God the Father keep a watchful eye on us as we navigate life. He allows us to make mistake and do encourage us to stand up from where we fell. He allows us to make our own choices, prompt us to think through carefully before we make those decisions. One thing He never do is to restrict us in our decision. He will guide us through the Holy Spirit and His word (the bible), but He let us make the choice. If we fall, He wants us to stand up and not stay down. He will help when He knows that we cannot cope or unable to do so. And never a day will go by without His watchful eye keeping us safe. It is left for us to stay within the safety confines of God.

Brothers and sisters, don’t be lazy and wants things fed to the mouth without lifting a finger. Don’t expect beautiful bed of roses without the thorns. They will be there, but the loving and watchful eyes of God the Father will always be on us to keep us safe. So learn to live free, enjoy God’s creation and live a moral and happy life.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

我观察一个在父亲注视下学习步行的可爱幼童。她走了几步就跌倒。父亲却只是看着她，她自己站立起来再次行走。她再一次跌倒，每一次又自己站起来。当她跌倒的时候也没有哭闹，只是想办法让自己再站起来。与此同时，她的父亲仍旧注视着，却没有上前帮助。

在我们的孩子更幼小的时候，我们允许他们跌倒并且让他们自己站起来因为我们认为那是对的。我问自己的是为什么我们却不能允许成长中的他们犯错并让他们从中学习呢？身为宠爱孩子的父母，我们希望把我们的孩子放在玻璃屋里悉心呵护。抑或是我们潜意识的希望他们去“完成我们未完成的梦想”呢？他们的穿着、他们选择的学校、或甚至他们要拥有的配偶。这些都是我们身为父母会干涉却又引起孩子不满的事项。这是我们要思考的事。

在我们的人生航行中，天父上帝也注视着我们。祂允许我们犯错并鼓励我们从跌倒的地方再次站立起来。祂允许我们自己作选择，提醒我们在作决定之前要仔细思考。祂从来不在我们作决定的时候限制我们。祂藉着圣灵和祂的话语（圣经）引导我们，但是祂让我们作选择。如果我们跌倒，祂要我们站立起来而不是在原地踏步。当祂知道我们无法应付或无法处理，祂就会帮助我们。没有一日是不在祂眼目的注视下平安度过的。我们就是在上帝安全的护卫中。

弟兄姐妹，不要懒散并要求不劳而获。不要期望一床不带刺儿的玫瑰。它们都会存在，但是天父上帝慈爱和注视的眼目会时刻关注我们，并保护我们的安全。所以要学习活得自在，享受上帝的创造并活出正直及喜悦的生命。

上帝赐福，
主里同工的，

Barry Leong