why can't i play in traffic?

Yesterday my fearless, truck-hugging toddler discovered that if he runs toward the street, I chase him... very fast. He thought this was extremely fun. And extremely funny. I did not. I tried acting non-chalant about the whole thing, tried to make it look like I wasn't chasing him, just redirecting him. Didn't work. I tried telling him to chase ME...and proceeded to run in the opposite direction. Didn't work. I tried the direct approach-- "NO STREET. DANGER." -- grabbing him by the arms and looking him in the eye. He just wriggled out of my grasp (or tried to), to continue his quest. I tried to explain rationally that if he does that, the cars could hit him and he could die. Definitely didn't work. It didn't affect him at all because he didn't understand what I was saying. But I did. And I was deeply affected by my own words. The reality of the danger (and my responsibility to keep him from it) pierced my heart with deeper impact than I can explain.
And instantly I felt the parallel. I have wanted to 'go places in life'... get things, have relationships...etc... that were not the best for me. I have tried to ignore God's voice, run from wisdom, manipulate situations in my favor, and outright defy what I know to be good and right and true. And then there are times I have obeyed reluctantly, pouting, stomping my feet and proclaiming how unfair it is. And while I don't know the deep and sovereign extent of the Love of the Father, I caught a glimpse of it yesterday in my maternal heart. I only want the best for my child. I only want him to know good and safety. And I want him to understand that everything I do to limit him is only out of incredible love. But he can't right now. And thus, like my Heavenly Father, I must keep him from that which looks appealing in the moment, but would only harm him in the end. And I must stop and consider next time I am convinced that I know the best path for my own life, that I may not know as much as I think I do. That if God is saying "no", there is a good reason. A VERY good reason.