Then it was grandkid four's turn—with her sister's Barbie doll. The entanglement was so severe, my first impulse was to shear her mangled hair. But a half-bald Barbie? No way. So I let it be. Let them play with their messed-up doll.
Buying a new Barbie came to mind (These two girls share only one.), but then, where's the teaching opportunity in that?
Entanglements—better to experience them at play where crying and sighing are just skin-deep, than in adulthood with their more ouchie consequences.
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a life of wisdom.
A day has 24 hours. More than half of these we spend making choices; the rest for gaining back strength through rest or sleep. Choice is a day-in, day-out affair.
Will I sleep a little longer or rise early to take my usual walk? Will I have breakfast? What kind?
At work, will I shut the door to finish that report my boss has been bugging me for days? But what if other hassles get in the way?
Bedtime. No not yet. Got to watch at least one more episode of Crash Landing On You (favorite Korean telenovela). But oh, got to watch the next one too, kasi bitin (cliffhanger) naman.
Each decision has a consequence. Go without breakfast or exercise? Lack of sleep? Health issues!
Slacking at work may lead to a miniscule or zero salary raise, no promotion; worse, your behind being kicked out the door.
It gets more serious than those. We've known folks who've been entangled in drugs, gambling, pornography, illicit relationships. The higher you step up the ladder of poor choices, the harder the fall—even with one careless move.
One sniff? One night of thievery? One fling? One thing leads to another.
It may not happen to you, but to a loved one. The pain is equally unbearable, isn't it? Especially when that someone takes his life and renders innocent children fatherless.
So this freedom "thing" which many tend to shout out loud to authorities so that they mock the law—where will it lead them, and us?
That's why there are rules. They're our even playing field. Obey the law. Respect the authorities. Within these boundaries, we can live peacefully—even enjoy our days.
These covid-19 days: wear your mask, practice physical distancing, do a fist or foot bump instead of the usual beso-beso (kiss).
Where rules are flouted or common sense disregarded, uncertainty prevails. That's why God has given us His Word—our standard. The Bible is the whole expression of God's instructions, our life manual if you will.
Matthew 22:37-40 "Love the Lord your God will with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength... love your neighbor as yourself... on these two commandments hang all the laws..."
This is our level playing field.
Yet Jesus knows our weaknesses. Who could follow all these rules? No, not one.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
That's why Jesus came, offering Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life, John 14:6.
From tangled hair to tangled life—it's His business to unentangle our mess. Better yet, to help us from getting tangled!
Prayer: O God, I repent and humble myself before You. Cleanse my heart and keep my way straight and safe. Forgive me for my wrong choices. Renew my mind. Change my heart of stone with a heart able to hear and obey your Word. Jesus be my Savior and Lord. Amen.
Entanglements in life are many, but this one seems to be the longest and the worst yet (at least for the generations that are still alive today). God will untangle it--who knows when? Until we learn our lesson? Or . . .?
ReplyDeleteWill we ever see the untanglement? Or will it get worse? Until our leaders and our nation repent, the Philippines is doomed. It is only by His grace that we can recover.
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