Now I'm certain that there are plenty of you who know exactly what that all entails and are cringing at the thought. I still am doing the "cootie" shiver-thing you do when you get all grossed out!
But yes, even this situation gave opportunity to teach me about my God. Yes, even poop.
Last night, while Corey and I were enjoying the peace and quiet of a late night conversation, we were interrupted (again) by the sound of our daughter's door opening. Since early in the week we had taken Ella's pacifier away, we assumed it was about that (again). However, it was not. Oh, how I wish that it were! Instead, two hours after her bedtime, she had come out to tell us about what she had done...and that she needed help.
Corey went to handle the situation by himself. It seems easier and quicker to re-put the kids to bed when there is only one of us in the room. However, moments after he left our room, I hear a monotone solemn voice, "Megan, come in here." Curious, I asked what it was about...instead of an answer, "Just come in here."
Corey is escorting Ella to me and asked that I clean her up and put a new diaper on her. He didn't really have to explain, the smell was explanation enough. Her eyes confused, fearful of punishment, shameful of wrong-doing. She had pooped, and chose to take off her own diaper...in bed...in the dark...under the covers. None of which are good choices. She already knows that she is not to take off her own diapers. She had done wrong...and she knew it.
However, she realized she had done wrong, and that she couldn't fix it herself, and had made a horrible mess. She needed help. So, she didn't try to hide it. Instead, she came to us, her parents, the ones who discipline her for doing wrong, yet the same ones who help her in times of trouble, who comfort her when she's scared or hurt, who play games with her, and who enjoy her because she belongs to them. She knew who to come to in order to make things right again, to be made clean again...even if it meant discipline.
I simply asked her to go get the baby wipes and a diaper. She did. As she handed me the items, she willingly laid her body down in front of me so that I could get to work.
Oh, what a parallel this paints for us as children of God. We may not wear diapers anymore, but we still make quite a mess at times, don't we? Our sin is like that poopy diaper - it stinks, its gross, and it makes a horrible mess if it is not disposed of properly.
Ella thought she could handle the situation (her poop) all by herself, but she was wrong. Instead, she made an even bigger, stinkier mess! Like Ella, at times, we too, think we can handle our sin (clean up our own mess) all by ourselves...and like her, we are wrong. God's Word tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. He is the one who does the cleansing, not us. But we must come to Him in order to do so. We must confess our wrong-doing - our sin, then, as the gracious and forgiving Father that He is, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness! I know that I often times forget this simple truth and so deceive myself into thinking that it is my responsibility to "fix my own mess," because it is also written, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8. But, only a few verses before it, I am also reminded that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (vs. 6), and a few verses after, "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." (vs. 10). We are to FIRST seek God's forgiveness and then repent. Once we are made right with God again through confession, forgiveness (on His part), it is He who will help and enable us to take steps of repentence "...the kindness of God leads you to repentance..." Romans 2:4.
It is God, who forgives, cleanses, and causes the fruit of repentance within our lives. If only we humble ourselves when we sin and choose to go to the One who disciplines us for wrong-doing, yet the same One who helps us in times of trouble, Who comforts us when we're scared or hurt...to the One who enjoys us because we belong to Him.
Like Ella, let us come before the Father, confess our sins, humbly lay ourselves down in front of Him so that we may be cleansed. Then ask for His help to clean up the mess around us...because He is faithful.
No comments:
Post a Comment