Moving on now that that's done:
Bookworm is an endless source of amusement for me. She is so earnest. She is very black and white. Her sense of right and wrong are very firm. I can't help it, sometimes I burst into laughter...
I know your curiosity is peaked. I know you are dying to learn some specific examples. Well, Gentle Reader fear not! I have two examples ready for you.
The first story involves this picture. My husband's company had their annual company picnic at Frontier City in "The City." That's Oklahoma City to all you non-Okies. Studmuffin was their with the girls by himself for the first few hours, as I was busy being the reflector girl for my niece Sarah at her photo session for my niece Molly.
I got there, and they had so many exciting things to tell me. Number one on Bookworm's list involved the Prairie Schooner. This is Frontier City's version of the swinging ship ride that so many of us know and love. Our conversation was as follows:
B: Mom, their is a naked lady on the front of the ship ride.
Me: Really?
B: Yes. When we were in line, I pointed it out to Dad. I knew he would want to know before we got on. (Understand, that this is all said in earnestness.)
Well, when I got in line to ride the ship with Popcorn (one time was enough with Popcorn. She nearly cried the first time, according to her) Bookworm made sure to point out the naked lady to me. I immediately snapped a picture and said I was going to blog about it. As I mentioned she made me promise to put a warning at the beginning. She was very upset by the naked lady. She pointed out it is very disappointing to have something like that in a family amusement park where any innocent children could see it. Again, I gotta say, I found all of this highly amusing. Okay. So maybe I cackled in my most terrifying Marilyn laugh (terrifying to me, because I fear it means I'm turning into my mother.) Maybe she shook her head at me, and didn't see the amusement in the situation....Maybe I'm an immature mother who found the whole thing funny...
Sunday my niece Sarah went shopping with Bookworm and me to find me an outfit for my high school reunion which is coming up in 2 weeks. We went to Old Navy. Bookworm came and got me. One of the modelquins was indecent. She was dressed in a camisole and a cardigan. Her camisole strap had slipped and her boob was about to fall out. I fixed the strap for her, and her relief was obvious. When we returned Sarah asked what we had been doing. I told her "Bookworm was on boob patrol, and I had to go cover one up." We both started laughing. Poor Bookworm turned crimson. And then, shock of shocks, I felt bad.
What the heck is wrong with me? Why am I teasing my child who is so determined to protect her innocence? Why do I chuckle every time she hides her eyes when people walk by and she realizes their t-shirts have inappropriate language on them (example: the zoo and a boy who was wearing a shirt that said I heart boobs. She was literally disgusted by that.) I love that she is so earnest in protecting her purity. I constantly talk to my kids about maintaining their purity. I forbid them to look at magazines in the check out. Of course I don't have to, because Bookworm often turns them over so they can't be seen...I make them leave or turn off the tv when I see inappropriate commercials....
Why in the world was I laughing at my child who is minding the Holy Spirit? We talk about when we get "funny feelings" and we think maybe we shouldn't be doing something, or looking at something, reading things, etc. I tell them that feeling comes from the Holy Spirit, and it is telling us to flee from whatever is tempting them. Then, when my precious child heeds the Spirits warning, I ridiculed her!
How humbling to realize that I was tempting my child to make light of the sin in our world. She's right. Nothing about that figure head was pleasing to God. It is an example of my heart being hardened to the sickness in this world. So, I had to ask her forgiveness. I told her I was proud of her for being so attentive to the Holy Spirit, and that I was sorry I had laughed at her. She, of course accepted.
Now. I need to pray and become more like my daughter. I need to learn to be on guard for Satan's sneaky ways. I know I have allowed myself to become numb. I have allowed my heart to be hardened. I don't know what to say. I'll just let scripture speak for me:
Hebrews 4:17-18
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts...
Hebrews 5:1-4
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving...
Hebrews 5:15
Be very careful, then how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
2 comments:
Amen sister.
I am proud of her and you too!!!
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