Child Proof

I've owned my home for...well, let me think...  Wow.  It will be 10 years in December.  Oh my word.  I must be getting old. ;-) 

I've made changes here and there. I've painted. I've slowly pulled together coordinating pictures and accent pieces over the years. But for the most part, the main large pieces of furniture have remained the same. Let's just say that when you live somewhere for that long by yourself, there can be a tendency to get used to the way things are. And if you're like me (God help you if you are...haha), you can walk through your every day routine without even thinking, because everything has a specific spot, and it will most certainly be right where you left it when you go to reach for it the next time.  There's also a tendency to not even notice particular items and totally overlook them, because that's just where they've always been. That is...until you bring a child into the picture.

A few weeks ago, I was finally able to hang out with some dear friends that I don't get to see nearly enough, and they brought their precious wee ones with them to my house for the afternoon. Granted, one of them is still a baby, and he could do no more harm than to drool on my carpet. :-) But the same cannot be said of the sweetest one year old toddler girl I know. She really was so good, but everyone gets a little naughty when they're way overdue for a nap, right? And it was that afternoon when I realized how child proof my house is NOT. My collection of wooden elephants that my grandfather got me overseas became the first fun target of attention. Oh, and all the pretty buttons on electronic media equipment are so fun to push. The porcelain teapot on the bottom shelf, of course, just had to be touched. Then when all breakables were finally put up out of reach, those stairs...ohhhhh those stairs were there just asking to be climbed. And I will never understand what draws kids toward electrical sockets. Their tiny holes are like magnets for little fingers!

Seriously, when I invited my friends over to hang out, I never once thought about any of those things! Apparently I'm a touch inexperienced. haha!  And in my friend's defense, she really handled her daughter's curious fingers so amazingly well. She disciplined out of love, and she said "no" to protect her daughter from harm. I loved watching her parenting skills in action. I have so much to learn, and I'm so glad I have great examples all around me!

It's surprising how many things there are in our own lives that we've lived with for so long that we just start to overlook them. We get comfortable in our routine. We don't even realize it when we have things that need to be cleaned up in our hearts. And if we actually do recognize that there's mess, we're the only ones who see it. We can justify it. We can sweep it under the rug. And no one is the wiser. That is...until you bring a friend into the mix. Someone to hold you accountable. Someone who will point out those areas in your life that are fragile. That are dangerous. That need to be cleaned up. That really should be off limits.

We're all a work in progress.
We can all tend to be blind to our own deficiencies.
We all need a wake up call from time to time.
We're all in need of a little child proofing in our lives.

I have so much to learn, so I love surrounding myself with friends who are great examples of God's grace, love, mercy, and truth. Friends who will hold me accountable. Friends who will not only point out my weaknesses, but will, in turn, help me child proof my heart. And I love planting God's Word within my mind. Setting it like a seal over my soul. Because it's for my good. It's for my own protection.

Proverbs 4
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

When I was a boy in my father’s house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
he taught me and said,
“Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.