Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup;
You make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5-6)

No really, he was having fun!

We were at the beach with my family on a perfect spring day: sunny and cool. My grandchildren were happily playing in the sand. After a while, Zachary, age 13 months, decided to go for a walk. He toddled in the sand aimless at first and then noticed the ocean. Zachary LOVES the water and this caught his attention. He walked towards it, down the beach and making it almost to the waters edge. At this point I stopped following him and barred his way, standing between him and the water. He would have walked right in! I picked him up and carried him to a safer place.

Later I considered how often I am like Zachary, entranced by something that looked delightful to me but instead was dangerous. How often have You, Jesus, stood between me and what I desired. 

Like Zachary did, I cry in frustration at first. I pray to You, Lord, and You say no. You firmly close the door. Only later in retrospect can I understand how, in Your mercy, You have saved me pain. Indeed You have saved me from death, from forfeiting my family, my legacy of children and grandchildren. 

Your boundaries may seem limiting with my human eyes, but they are not. Your boundaries have fallen to me in pleasant places. You have given me a delightful inheritance as I follow You.  

You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing. (Psalm 16:2)