As promised in last post, I immediately secured a front door lock to prevent three-year-old Eli from untimely exits. It lasted until he saw it.
‘”I don’t want that here”. He removed it with his deft little fingers and handed it to me.
After two other lock styles lock were installed and disabled, I knelt and explained how these devices were to keep him safe. He lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like that.”
Out of the mouth of babes!
I don’t like many of the teachings put in place to keep me safe from anger or bitterness.
Love thy neighbor as thyself when she reports me to the HOA.
Forgive when a teacher ridicules my child before his peers.
The Lord loves a joyful giver when I’m a joyful hoarder.
Sigh. And yet, there they are! God’s strong and tender way to keep His children safe.
Eli cannot fathom the dangers those locks protect him from—a snake, an ice patch, a car out of control. You and I may assume we are not in danger from our anger or bitterness, but are we safe? Studies show our emotions impact us. Psychologically, with unresolved anger and bitterness, we can become anxious, defiant or withdrawn, and lose sleep—just to name a few possibilities.
Ephesians 4:31–32 guides us: “Let all bitterness . . . be put away from you. . . . Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
How? By turning toward’s God’s love, remembering His forgiveness and asking the Holy Spirit to well up within us and create in us a pure heart.
Honestly, I just pray “Dear Lord, please have a good supply of duct tape to keep my mouth closed until I can grow spiritually enough to forgive.”
Forgiven and forgiving is where I want to live—safe in His wisdom and care. Therefore, like it or not, my deft little fingers need to leave God’s locks in place.
Great post. I really got a chuckle out of the duct tape reference. Visuals always help drive home the point for me.
You always have such insightful posts. I see myself in that kid!
Love it! I need more duck tape
I have duct tape! Just need to put it to use!
Let me know how that goes!
Duct Tape- what a great visual reminder! Great post—
I’ll share my duct tape with you!
Great post.Very helpful.Thanks Susan.
Thank you, my friend.
Great analogy! Thank you!
I hope there’s enough duct tape!
Love!
Nothing is safe from Eli!