So, my seven year old is a part of this new Webkinz craze. You know, the little stuffed animals that have an online counterpart. They’re actually pretty cute animals and some of the games online are educational, but that’s beside the point. Aaron loves them.
Actually, one morning he walked through the kitchen to pack his lunch and there was a strange, unseemly looking bulge from beneath his shirt….as a matter of fact, it was a Webkinz-shaped bulge. Evidently, Aaron had no idea how obvious his new growth was to the naked eye. He marched through the kitchen as if it was just any other school day….so I did what any strict, disciplinarian would do…..I stifled a laugh and asked, “Aaron, is there something wrong with your shirt?”
His wide blue eyes grew a bit wider and he shook his head. “Nope. I think it’s just a little big.”
“Hmmm,” I replied and walked over to him. His eyes grew to saucer shape. “It looks like there is an extra lump right here.”
Guilt crept up into his expression and he swallowed hard. “Can I take my Webkinz to school?”
“Not now,” I replied. “Maybe if you had asked me instead of trying to deceive me, you might have had the opportunity, but not now.”
His lip jutted out into a froggy pout. “How come you always know stuff like that?”
It’s the ‘mom sense’, right? Not! That lump was way to obvious for any mystery, but at least Aaron thought so.
But let’s not just focus on poor Aaron. A few days later, my six year old daughter joined the ranks of ‘sneaky’. We were getting ready to go to midweek service and Lydia came downstairs with her body bent over like an old woman. She proceeded to walk in this bowed position as she passed by me and headed for the door.
I watched her, curiously. Suddenly she said, “I like walking this way. I think I’ll walk like this all the way to church.”
Then I knew….. “Pull the toy out of your pants and take it back to your room.” (I never imagined in all my life I’d make insane statements like this…it must be motherhood.)
“Oh, Mama how did you know?”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Lydia, hiding your toy from me is like telling a lie. If you have to hide it, then you already know you are doing something wrong?”
“I can’t hide anything from you.” She groaned and took her toy back to her room.
Sound familiar?
I’m just like this with God, constantly trying to hide what I think he ‘can’t see’. I may fool others, sometimes even myself, but I’ll never fool God. He sees into my very heart. The impure thoughts, the anger, the gossip…whatever I think I’ve covered so well, is directly in the open for His all-seeing eyes.
At the end of Ecclesiastes there is an powerful pair of verses.
12: 13-14 – Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing whether it be good or evil.
In 1Corinthians 4:5, Paul writes, Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and expose the motives of men’s hearts.
So, how is this news encouraging? First of all, God knows our hearts, our weaknesses and sins, but he loves us anyway. Secondly, if he did not love us, he wouldn’t bring our sins to light, he would allow us to drown in our darkness, but instead he ‘calls us out of darkness’ and breaks our hearts so he can mend those broken pieces back into a heart like His own.
He wants what is best for us. He knows the perfect path for our redemption. If it means a temporary hurt, loss, or frustration, then so be it, in the end our goal is His glory. We are so blessed to be loved with a love like God’s.
A very timely and powerful post, Pepper. Now matter how are we try, we can’t hide our faults from Jesus. And just think, He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly, and STILL loves us : )
Humbling, very humbling.
Audra,
You are so sweet. I’m so thankful for His love, aren’t you? Getting bogged down in our sinfulness only causes us to be ineffective, but focusing on His grace and mercy, pushes us into worship, celebration, and acts of love. He is good.