You may remember, when my grand-babies visit, our kitchen table becomes the center of all things crafty: crayons, glitter, stickers, you name it.
Braden, our budding paleontologist, is into drawing our family. Nine stick figures are personalized by height and hair while another stands out with a big circle drawn in her middle. That’s Aunt Violet whose expecting little Luna Sophia in July.
Before drawing his family portraits, Braden sticks out his tongue to help him concentrate and cuts the four corners off each piece of paper. I ask him why, to which he replies,
“Because I don’t need them.”
I love how this kid thinks. I guess he sees the corners as unnecessary and in his way.
So, what can we cut? What’s unnecessary and in the way?
Now I didn’t say who’s in the way. This isn’t a time to blame or complain. This is looking inside and getting real, stripping bare to see what needs to be cut off. It’s painful to be honest with ourselves. But it’s essential because what does self-deception produce? The same old stuff.
We justify our bad attitudes and give ourselves permission to continue in sin that stunts our growth and strains our relationship with God. Self-deception is absurd really, because we only hurt ourselves. We can justify anything. Then we get caught in the same loop, doing the same thing, expecting change.
And how about worry? Do we have any of that to cut away? Why do we do it? All it accomplishes is stress, sleepless nights, and a host of health issues. Jesus asks, “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”*
Worry robs you of really living and can shorten your life. It creates dis-ease in mind, body, and spirit.
I’ve heard parents say, “But, it’s my job to worry.” No. It’s not. It’s our job to give our best and we can’t if we’re distracted by all the what-ifs. While there are things that are downright scary and should concern us, we don’t have to fret and wring our hands. We can open them and pray. Knowing and trusting God’s already way ahead of us, we can breathe in his presence and breathe out his peace.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”
My friend, let’s remember Braden’s corners. May we cut off what’s unnecessary and in the way so God can create a work of art in us.
*Matthew 6:27
© Robin Melvin 2015
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