hard lessons

I hate watching my children learn hard lessons. Today I watched Jonathan have to learn a hard lesson. It wasn't a life altering hard lesson, but for him it was major. He wasn't getting what he wanted. Here's the story: We all go to Chic-fil-A for lunch after Abigail's swim lessons. I get them all a kids meal. Usually what happens when we eat in and get a kids meal they all trade in the book/toy for ice cream. Today, I reminded them of that. Jonathan tells us that he doesn't want ice cream today, so he opens the item that came in the happy meal. When it came time for the others to get their ice cream Jonathan gets upset because he wants ice cream (he also wants the item that came in the kids meal). We told him we weren't paying for an ice cream that we explained to him earlier about it. He begans to cry and get upset. You can see the hurt and disappointment in his eyes. We had to talk with him about listening to mommy and daddy. I think sometimes God feels the same way with us when He sees we are about to learn a hard lesson. He explains to us the result of our decision, but it is just that-our decision. He knows what the results will be for us when we make either decision. I believe His heart breaks for us when we choose to make the foolish choice and end up learning a hard lesson. So often we want our cake and eat it too, but God says you can only have it one way. We choose to obey or disobey. If we choose to disobey, it is encouraging to know that we are only one prayer away from healing and righteousness. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."