We started our little adventure through the neighborhood with Chloe sitting in the wagon and me pulling it. Things quickly went downhill from there.

For about half a block, she was content to sit still and let me do all the work. Then she wanted out so she could walk. After about 10 minutes of walking, she wanted to pull the wagon herself. I tried to talk her out of it but she was so insistent, I finally let her.

It was quite a sight to see. She did very well at the beginning, but she lacked the ability to control its direction. It kept heading toward the middle of the street, requiring me to make course corrections every few minutes.

When we went down a hill, the wagon picked up speed and the tires hit her heels, tripping her. Several times I put my hand on the wagon to slow its descent and keep it from running her over, but as soon as she saw my hand on the wagon she'd scream, "I do it! I do it!"

When we went up a hill, she tugged and tugged, switching the handle from one hand to the other. I asked her if she wanted help, but she refused. Her breath came in short puffs, punctuated by the occasional grunt as she made a Herculean effort to pull the wagon to the top.

I was reminded of "The Little Engine That Could," but instead of "I think I can, I think I can," Chloe's mantra was, "I do it! I do it!"

Finally she stopped. The wagon's metal handle fell to the street with a "clang." She looked up at me with reddened cheeks and a sweaty brow. The three little words I'd been waiting for finally came: "You do it."

With a smile on my face I looked down at this sweet little child who'd given such a valiant effort. There was no defeat in her request, just the simple knowledge that her daddy would finish what she'd started. I picked her up in my arms, grabbed the handle of the wagon and carried her home.

How many times do we struggle through life, pulling a weight our heavenly father never intended for us to carry? He's waiting for us to admit that we can't do it by ourselves, and relinquish control of it to him.

There's no defeat in coming to that conclusion, for our heavenly father will then take possession of our burdens and carry them for us, giving us rest for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

Parrish Myers is pastor of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Gainesville. His column runs every other week in Sunday Life.