“Hands off,” a phrase repeated by countless moms and tested by countless children.  It’s a hard lesson to learn. And when God says to us, “Hands off”, we often respond with:

“I’m only trying to help.”          “But time is running out.”            “If I just…”

                                   “God forgot.”                           “Yes, but…”

Or the best one,

                                ”God doesn’t understand.” (Yeah, right!)

Why is “hands off” so difficult? By nature we repair, organize, love, and nurture. These are good things but they can warp into an attempt to control an outcome based on fear and pain and worry and with our finite knowledge.

My friend created a tiny sculpture that she keeps on her desk. It is an awkward snarl of silver wires hopelessly entangled.

Like life.

The sculpture is a reminder that even when the past seems unforgiveable, the present unbearable, and the future undesirable, God will turn it into a beautiful sculpture of His design.

If…

We lay it all down at His feet

And…

Keep our hands off.

The next time a child tests you on “hands off”, may you show patience.  Most of us as adults are still trying to learn this lesson.