Anna loves to climb our wooden fence. Unfortunately, splinters are likely when she grabs the fence with her small, tender hands. She knows this. But sometimes, the reward outweighs the risk, so she climbs away. When she came inside from our backyard yesterday with tears streaming down her face, I knew. She climbed the fence. And, she had the splinters in her hand to prove it.
“Get them out, Mom!” she wailed. “They hurt so badly!”
Isn’t it funny how something so tiny can cause so much pain and discomfort? We want it out right then, don’t we? We are always quick to respond to our physical well-being.
Yet, when something seemingly small and painful enters our spirit, we don’t always work to get it out right away. We think we can continue to function and pretend it’s not there. It might be jealousy. Discontentment. Bitterness. Pride.
Our Words.
Our Thoughts.
To name a few.
But these seemingly small things can cause great damage to our spirits. They can even cause damage to those around us. The Song of Solomon tells us that it’s “the little foxes that spoil the vine.” So, why do we think we can compartmentalize those little things and shove them in a drawer as though they will not affect us?
We really can’t. Because, those splinters will show themselves whether we want them to or not.
Instead, we have to get out the tweezers and prod it, poke it, and pull at it until it’s no longer infecting us. We have to get it out.
It might hurt a little when we pull the splinter out. But, oh the relief once we do.
I tend to ask God, “What in me is not of You?” Then? God and I deal with it. Together.
Annnndddd, we do this often. Just the same, I know I haven’t relieved Anna Takle of her last splinter. And, when she runs to me crying, “Get it out,” I will. Then, I will hold her and let her rest in my arms. Don’t you think our heavenly Father does the same?
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