Pushing the Limits

The 3 year old was sitting at the breakfast bar eating an afternoon ice cream bar. He hops off the stool and heads for the play room. Dad says, "Did you throw away your wrapper, buddy?"
"Yes, I did!" the 3 year old replies very definitely as he trots across the den, slowing after a few steps, he pauses, "Mmmmm, I better check." he adds. He trots back to the stool grabs the wrapper, throws it in the trash with, "Oops, I didn't." Dad rolls his eyes as he shakes his head at the 3 year old scampering off to play.
Funny story about how kids manipulate and make us laugh.
You could see the wheels turning in the little guys' head..the decision that his first response was going to cause him more trouble than it was worth and his choice to "come clean" and rectify the error.
Pushing the limits. We do that as kids, adults, teens, all our lives. I love our Lord and talk to Him daily - many times a day. I need to spend more time in deep prayer, but I tell Him how I am doing, what I am doing, thank Him for little things and so on. But I, too, push the limits so often. How much can I get away with, Daddy Father God? God forgives us, He knows what I am going to do before I do it because our Lord does not operate in the space-time continuum that we humans are bound by. But I have to confess when I make those decisions to let something ride - it always comes back to "get me" in one way or another - thank the Lord for His love, grace, mercy - that He always accepts my confession, always loves me.
Lord, may I love you so dearly that I stop pushing the limits and serve you, not from duty, but from deep abiding love.