Pooping at the Park

      Taking my little grandsons to the park sounded like a wonderful idea.  The boys were swinging and squealing, and jumping and running, when out of the blue, Ryder, the three year old, lets out a blood curdling scream!  Looking up, I realize he is holding his hiney as he runs towards me!  He frantically yells, “I have to poop!”    Now there is no bathroom, so in a panic, I quickly grab a couple of peanut butter and jelly stained napkins from our picnic lunch and prop him up by an isolated tree with his britches around his ankles.  At this point, his older brother, Cross, squats down beside him and announces, “Nana, I am going to watch it come out!”  I am not sure, but I am thinking there is a city ordinance stating that it is not proper to publicly poop at the park.  I can just imagine the 6:00 news discussing a pooping perpetrator at the park.  I am frantically looking from side to side hoping that nobody else walks up on this scene.   I am sure I sounded like a cheerleader as I encouraged him by repeatedly chanting, “Hurry, poop, poop, poop!”   Between my cheers and his brothers ogling, suddenly everything came to a halt with NO results.  Batting his cute little blue eyes and not caring that he is practically naked at the park and trying to crap under a tree, the boy exclaims, “It went away!”  Footnote:  The next time I take my grandkids to the park, I will be bringing the dog’s pooper scooper and a plastic bag.  Who knew!

Invisible Wounds

                          

               After getting my grandson, Ryder, ready for preschool, he quickly disappeared. Suddenly he returned with a band-aid that he obviously wanted to wear to school.  I exclaimed, “Awwww, do you have a boo-boo?” Knowing he didn’t, I attempted to put it on his arm.  Smiling sweetly, he pointed to his flawless little forehead.  I gingerly applied the band aid to his fake injury and kissed the delicate pretend wound. 

          Proudly, Ryder sauntered into his preschool classroom that morning, where the teacher immediately made a fuss over his invisible wound.  You would have thought he had gone bungee jumping, catapulted 400 feet in the air, and landed on his forehead.  Smiling in the background, I now understood why he wanted to wear the band-aid.  

          As I reflect on that morning, I am reminded that there are people all around us who have invisible wounds  –  death of a loved one, picking up the pieces of a broken family, loss of health, feelings of rejection, loss of a job, financial troubles, heartbreak from a broken relationship, or disappointments. 

          Invisible wounds seem to hurt even more during the Christmas season. We are surrounded by people who just want the season over.  Thank goodness we have a loving compassionate God who has a ready supply of band-aids to put on our invisible wounds.  His word tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3). 

           God’s word tells us not to look out only for our own interests, but to take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:4).  As I think about my “area of influence” I am asking God to help me to be sensitive to those around me with invisible wounds, those who are struggling through this Christmas season.  I want to live out my faith in front of others and make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5).

                                                                                                         

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you that you specialize in using ordinary people.  Lead me to people with invisible wounds, and show me a way to bless them.  Help me to live out my faith in front of others and be a positive influence.  Guide me supernaturally and use me to touch the brokenhearted!  Help me not to lose opportunities that I will never get back.  Read:   Psalm 147:3; Philippians 2:4; Colossians 4:5;