Reflection
This scripture is a real bummer to read. Like, seriously… I come to church to find hope, solutions, and silver linings, but here I am stuck writing about sin and punishment. Bleh.
But also… been there and it’s just not easy to admit.
Sometimes life piles up; work gets busy, schedules change, children act up, and the house just gets to looking like a tornado came through. Then the dog gets underfoot one more time, you stub your toe, or step on a sharp toy and…THAT’S IT!
“DISHONOR!… DISHONOR ON YOU! DISHONOR ON YOUR COW!” (If you don’t get this reference, go watch the original animated MULAN right this instant.)
I’VE HAD IT! If it’s on the floor, it’s going in a trash bag! It’s all junk! Get rid of it! Why do we even need this much stuff?!
After reading through this a few times, it just feels like Mom(me) losing her(my) temper. Not much of what she says is serious. (It is serious, there’s too much stuff, but also, a good cry and some chocolate will protect the toys from ending up in a landfill.) Especially once the floor and couch are visible again.
When all the chaos of life starts to accumulate, it can be overwhelming and lead to an explosion of big feelings. But as Ms. Rachel sings, “Big feelings are okay. It’s okay to have big feelings.” Granted it’s a bit scary to think of God having big feelings and ranting like this, but hey, we are God’s children, and I guess we had to learn it from somewhere… right?
For Pondering and Prayer
I think the moral of the story I’m trying to tell is: we all lose our temper once in a while. It’s a human thing to do. It matters more how you recover from losing your temper like this. Who was caught in the rip current and deserves an apology? How will you learn to be better and either avoid the explosion or explode in a safe way next time?
By Ashley Bowler
God of mercy, You see me in my chaos— when the mess builds, the noise rises, and my temper boils over. Forgive me when I lash out instead of leaning on You. Help me to grow in gentleness, to breathe before I speak, and to seek Your strength when mine begins to fail. Teach me to pause, to breathe, to recognize the weight I’m carrying before it breaks me. Thank You for Your patience when mine runs short, and for Your love that welcomes me back every time. Amen.
