A unique opportunity

Posted by Jesus on May 14, 2007

There are some stories which are sad even to God. Stop and think about the relevance of anything He chooses to do which could sadden Him. We’re talking about God, who can do pretty much anything He pleases, and still He chooses to enforce rules which sometimes make Him sad. It’s rather profound when you think about it. There’s a story today which presents us a truly unique opportunity to see this at work. You won’t see it often. This is going to sting, but I have to go over the lesson to be had.

A six year old girl died last Friday evening of a self-inflicted, accidental scissor wound to the neck. According to the article she was “standing on a wheeled, office-style chair when it moved and she lost her balance.” Now you all know how much I love little girls, so this is especially difficult for me. Sometimes, though, we just have to make sure you all remember Exodus 20:12.

From the Bible:

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12 (A.K.A. The Fifth Commandment, or perhaps The Fourth Commandment if you’re Catholic)

How many times have how many parents told how many kids not to play with scissors? We really didn’t have a choice but to enforce this one after so many kids ignored this parental directive. Every so often one of them has to have an accident, just like every once in a while one of them has to take a lawn dart to the head or drink Drano. None of us enjoy it, especially when a little girl is the subject, but it has to happen. I guess if there is a positive to take out of this it’s that I managed to talk Dad into letting her come up here when we start the rapture. Given the number of times she’d violated God’s Law already by age six it was unlikely that she would have otherwise gotten in. Perhaps that is yet another testament to my love for little girls.

Parents, there is little you can do in this case but to use this as a teaching experience for your kids. Explain to them that “thy days may be long upon the land” if they do as they’re told, but that God may take them at any moment if they disobey Him or you. This would also be an excellent opportunity to reconsider stoning as an appropriate punishment for Commandment violations as per Deuteronomy 21:18-21. This would not only save us the awkward task of having to make our own examples now and then but would also increase your standing in God’s eyes.

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