Thank God for Temper Tantrums

I have learned many lessons being a daddy the last 2 1/2 years, but the one I learned tonight rocked me to my core. Kaylin had been fussy all day today. She has cried and whined at everything today. Things came to a boil at bed time. I have tried to make it a point to read to her from her Jesus Storybook Bible each night before she goes to bed. It is beginning to stick as she is starting to bring me her "Bible," as she calls it, at bed time and tells me that she wants to read a story from it. I can't describe how her doing that blesses my soul, but it does. Tonight was no different.

Kaylin brings me her Bible and tells me she wants me to read to her from it. She then tells me she wants to lay on the pillows on the floor at the foot of our bed. We lay down and I open her Bible. Just as I begin to read to her about the Tower of Babylon, she yanks it away from me and says that SHE wants to read it. I told her no I was going to read it because it was past her bed time and we had to hurry. I took the Bible from her and HERE WE GO! She starts to pitch a fit. She is screaming and waving her arms frantically (acting just like her mother! HA!). I tell her to get in the bed and she yells, "NO!" When I go to pick her up, she runs from me and swats at me. I pick her up and lay her down and she is really throwing a fit now. With tears streaming down her face and her voice crackling from screaming she begins to call for her mother. I told her that neither her mom or I could help her until she calmed down. I left her in the room for a few minutes until I finally heard her quit crying. I opened the door and asked her if she was done. She shook her head yes/ Even though that bottom lip was still stuck out, I went to her and began explained to her why she got in trouble. I carefully explained that we don't run from daddy, we don't tell him NO and we don't hit or kick him. I told her that daddy didn't like getting on to her, but she has got to mind. She apologized and we hugged. I then read to her from her Bible and that was the end of it....so I thought.

I decided to grab a quick shower. While in the shower I began to think about how bad it kills my soul to have to get on to Kaylin. It takes every ounce of anything I have to discipline her. I mean it zaps me. I began to think that if it bothered me that bad to get on to her, then how bad did it bother my Heavenly Father to discipline me? How much does it crush Him? I immediately began to repent. How many times have I tried to run from God? How many time have I told him NO and kicked and hit at his authority over me? It was in that moment that I thanked God for temper tantrums and pleaded for forgiveness for behaving the very same way that my daughter behaved for me. Just like I did with Kaylin, God forgave me and wrapped his arms around me and told me He loved me. How great is our God?? Thank God for temper tantrums.