The other day, my two younger kids needed to get out of the house and get some wiggles out. It was rainy and cold, and the perfect day for a fall soup recipe, but not a good day for running around at the park. Thankfully here in the rainy northwest, McDonald's has blessed us with indoor playgrounds. So lunchtime found us driving to the closest wiggle-zone.
As we drove, the kids joked and giggled about this meme or that tick-tok, and while I enjoyed them bantering instead of fighting, I found myself intervening to explain what is appropriate and what is not. They did finally admit that half of what we see on the internet isn't even real. Okay, maybe a generalization, but I wasn't going to argue with their logic since I dislike watching YouTube anyway.
Coming to a stoplight, we sat behind a car whose bumper sticker read, “Stay Nasty.” I wondered if this was a teachable moment or if I should just keep my mouth shut. Deciding to go for it, I pointed out the sticker to the boys. After reading it off, my eleven year old immediately exclaimed, “Now, THAT'S not appropriate!” as his eyes bulged out of his head. The seven year old, however, needed an explanation.
Hmm, how DOES one explain that phrase, which can have multiple meanings, to a child? I decided to tell him it basically meant that they think it's okay for people to say dirty things and not clean their house…or something like that. The consensus among us was that it sure was a silly bumper sticker. So, since drives across town are boring, I asked them what their bumper sticker would say if they had one. My 11 year old decided his would say “Can you hear me?” I guess a nod to the fact that he often feels people aren't listening to him. The seven year old couldn’t come up with anything original and agreed that his brother's idea was good, but knowing what I do about this child, I'm pretty sure his would say, “Listen, Linda!”
Trying to teach them reciprocal conversation skills, I asked if they wanted to know what mine would say, and they kindly played along. I told them I want one that says “Be kind, Believe in Unicorns.” My 11 year old pointed out, “Unicorns aren’t even real, Mom.” Well, of course not, I said, but that is exactly the point. Over all else, I think it is important to be kind to others, and to go ahead and believe in the impossible.
Driving around with stickers on our cars is only one way to communicate to those around us what we believe in or desire in our lives. Every day, we send verbal and non verbal cues about our core beliefs and character. How do we treat others? What kinds of words come out of our mouths? What do we give the most time and energy to? In what locations do we spend the most time?
Jesus calls us to be salt and light. We flavor our everyday spaces with our words and actions. Do they convey the goodness and truth of the Holy Spirit? We are told that as Christians,
“You are the salt of the earth, But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house ” (Matthew 5:13-14).
What kind of light radiates from me on a daily basis? Sometimes I’ve had enough sleep to smile, be positive, helpful, read all the bible verses for the day, and know that God’s got me safe in His harbor. Other times, I feel so tired and worn, that I don’t feel like I am radiating any light. I grumble and probably say a few too many bad words. I pray for just enough patience to get me through the day without yelling at anyone. The thing is, Jesus is seriously GOOD NEWS. It’s okay if everyday is not perfect. Because of His sacrifice and living as a human here on earth, he knows it’s hard work, and he left us with the Holy Spirit to fill in all those spaces, so that even on the hard days, a smidge of light can still shine through, a little bit of salt can still flavor the corner of the world we influence. Lastly, because the trinity is a powerful three, we have the Armor of God to protect us and be a harbor to rest in when the sea tosses us just a little too much.
So, while we wear the armor of God, we radiate outward his spirit of love, compassion, and truth. We each do this in our own way. No one's bumper sticker will say exactly the same thing, and may even change throughout life. While I believe in the power of persevering kindly through the impossible, my husband's sticker might say “Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone,” as he believes in the necessity of availability to those around us when called by God to be so.
In what ways does your light shine? What does your bumper sticker say?
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