Where are the lines?

The other day I was driving along a stretch of road that had just been re-paved. The lane was wide because there is normally a shoulder to the road, but the lines weren't painted yet. There were little markers along where the yellow line would be, but the white line on the right was completely missing. I realized that I was having a hard time driving. I really had to focus on what I was doing and found myself thinking, "Am I too far to the right? to the left? I don't want to have an accident." It amazed me how much more effort it took to drive where there weren't any lines. And then I thought about what a good example this was of why my children need "lines" or boundaries that are clearly defined. They function so much better when and can move forward so much more easily when they don't have to wonder where the lines are...just like me in our van. If they don't have to spend time thinking about the lines and testing the boundaries, they can just focus on the task at hand, whether it's doing something for Mama or just playing well together. Of course, that also made me realize that God has given us some very clear lines to follow as well. It can hurt when we cross the line and He has to push us back in bounds, but I'm thankful that He does. The lines help me move forward each day when I don't have to wonder where they are.