This Message Will Self-Destruct

“[The angel said to them] ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t look back and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!’ But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:17, 26


Yesterday, the children were on self-destruct mode. First, my 5YO decides it would be a good idea to talk to me while I was weedeating. I thought he went the other way and turned right into his leg. No broken skin, but four really big whelps showed up under his shorts. Good thing it missed his bare leg! I’m pretty sure my application for Mother-Of-The-Year was immediately revoked. After 30 minutes of serious screaming and crying and some frozen vegetables to the leg (he liked trying to pick out the green beans), he was back in action.

Then my 7YO notices that he has some loose skin on his hand from his monkey bar habit, and decides it would be a good idea to pull it off. Not so much when you have dirty, sweaty hands. Another round of high-pitched screaming ensued. Rinsing it off in the horse tank was rejected as crazy talk since he’s had open wounds in the bathtub before. He’s beginning to wise up! Finally, after I explained about sweat and salt and not pulling the skin off your blister, we rinsed it off under the faucet and he made a near immediate recovery.

Then 5YO takes on the cedar tree in the back yard and pricks his finger with one of the needles. It was weedeater incident all over again once he saw that drop of blood.

In exasperation I uttered, “You guys will never make it as cowboys!”

My husband reminded me that there is a song about that. “Mamas, don’t let yer babies grow up to be cowboys…” You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a Russian sing Willie Nelson.

My sons have had days like this since they were born. I call them “Boy Days” - days when every activity ends with a head injury. I tell them to be more careful. Don’t do that. Stop! But in the end, I dole out the bandages and antibiotic ointment. Or drive them to the Doctor, whatever the case may be.

Why can’t they listen? I know that grabbing a hand of cedar tree will result in stuck needles. I know that pulling off the skin from a blister is not a good idea. I know that trying to go down stairs headfirst is not the ideal way. And I tell them these things. But they insist on trying it anyway.

Kind of reminds me of myself.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23