Groundhog Day and Monkey Leashes

Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies. I actually got to watch it today while on a treadmill. Cardio theaters are so cool! 450 calories later, I was inspired all over again. If you haven’t seen Groundhog Day, it really is a fun movie. It’s a story about Phil Connors, a weatherman who gets stuck covering a story he hates (Groundhog Day) in a city he loathes (Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania). While he’s there, he discovers that it's Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. At first, he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realization that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day. Fortunately for Phil, he ends up changing his ways and becomes a better man. As a friend once told me, "It's a story about second chances and the transformation of the human spirit." I love it! Groundhog Day makes me think about grace. That’s what the grace of God does. It gives us a second chance and transforms our lives. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

As you know, we recently got back from China celebrating the adoption of our precious Talia, just in time for Groundhog Day. While we were there, I saw an interesting transformation take place with Toby (our first adopted child) and Tali. As you can imagine, things got a little stir crazy staying in a hotel room two weeks with a couple of preschoolers. (One of them barely knows me and the other thinks he knows everything). So to shake the restlessness & boredom, we decided to take them on a walk around the hotel.

Before leaving for China, MaryBeth purchased matching monkey leashes for them. FYI...When she purchased the leashes, she had no idea that it's the "year of the monkey" in China. The reason we got the "kid-leashes" was purely for safety reasons. We realize some people hate them...but we really don't care. Seeing the angry look on their faces actually makes me smile. When these people give me a "how dare you put your child on a leash" scowl; I just stare back with a sarcastic look that says, "Chill out... you should see the cage we have for them back at the house." Most of these well-meaning critics obviously never had to keep up with a hyperactive Deaf child. We've experienced the busy sidewalks of Guangzhou before and didn't want to take any chances with two little ones amongst the millions.

https://vimeo.com/153967399

Anyway, as we were walking, the thought struck me. These little guys really feel like they are in control...that is until they try to get too far away. They kept making the same mistake over and over again, drifting dangerously close to the road. They liked the leashes just about as much as Phil Connors liked Punxsutawney. What they thought of as restrictive and boring was really just a loving father teaching them how to change.

Can you relate? I think we sometimes respond to our Heavenly Father the way my children responded to those leashes. Like little children (and Phil) we abuse our freedom and walk around the world acting like there's not a sovereign God on the other end of our leash. It seems that we never learn from our mistakes. In reality, God not only wants to change us; He wants to protect us from ourselves. I love my kids, but my love for them pails in comparison to the love that God has for them. He had the end of their leashes long before I did. Whether you realize it or not, He loves you too and He knows the changes you need to make in your life.

Talia doesn't much care for her new daddy right now, but I'm confident that one day this will change. She's never had a positive father figure in her life. As her "Alien Abductor" I have my work cut out for me. While she had no choice in her adoption, she will certainly one day have a choice to accept my love for her and to love me in return. She just needs time to experience my never-ending unconditional love. This is ultimately the greatest commandment God gives His children. "I want you to love Me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." (Luke 10:27)

Here's a great question you can answer on this Groundhog Day...or ANY day for that matter. What needs to change in my life so I can love my Heavenly Father the way He wants me to? While we probably won't be reliving February 2, 2016 all over again tomorrow, we are given today. Do you feel that tug on the other end of YOUR monkey leash? That's not God being a kill-joy; It's just your Heavenly Father saying, "I’ve got you babe!..." So that's the reminder we have at the end of this Groundhog Day. He's giving us yet another opportunity to change our hearts. As we experience His unconditional love and protection, we can love Him in return.

My friend, God has the other end of your leash...and He loves you very much. Love Him back.