Our Bloody Knees

Yesterday we went to our nephew's birthday party.  The crowd that came together was mostly family...so we were pretty comfortable and casual.

After the yummy lasagna meal a few of us went outside to enjoy the sweaty September day.  I was sitting with Caroline out on the front porch when I heard a familiar, yet unsettling, cry.  I knew it immediately.  My little man, Zeke, was hurt.

The cry was loud and immediate.  Sure enough he had fallen going up the front brick steps.

Needless to say, brick is not forgiving in any sense.  So Zeke had himself some bloody knees. 

We went through the moments of trying to calm him down which then lead into the period where he begs us, "Please don't touch it mommy."

Of course the scrapes needed to be cleaned up but they weren't deep at all so his daddy shifted the focus to a walk around the farm instead.

After the walk Zeke was back to himself.  No more tears.  Other than the bloody scrapes no one would have known that he had fallen at all.

(Fast forward about 5 hours....)

Zeke's tune drastically shifted into panic when he was called to take his bath for the evening.

Why?

Because pain was coming.  He knew that water and soap would touch those tender bloody knees and it would hurt. 

I sat that on the sofa and remembered many days as a child when I would wince at that same pain...almost anticipating for him.

Then God's gentle Holy Spirit spoke an even deeper truth....

"Andrea you still do this.  You walk through your days and fall.  Sometimes you fall into sin. Other times you fall trying to step onto higher ground and walk more closely with me.  But still I know the falls hurt you and bloody your knees in a spiritual sense.  Yet, you hesitate to come close to the healing waters and let me restore those wounds.  Why?  Because it still hurts." 

Ain't it the truth?!?

Those times of drawing near to God to repent or confess are so hard.  Vulnerability and humility must come forth to even begin the process.  Too often we just avoid it and never let our wounds be cleansed.

Zeke is on the mend I am happy to say.  His bloody knees survived the soapy water and are well on their way to healing.

What about mine?

Job 5:18 "For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."





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