I’m feeling nostalgic this morning. Maybe it’s the grey of the day or perhaps it’s the season that has a way of swelling a heart with emotion. Regardless, I’m missing innocence; those days when my kids and my world were small. In those days the knowledge of good seemed to far outweigh the knowledge of evil. Sure, evil was acknowledged, but its impact was felt in limited proportions. The simplicity of childhood needs, dominating the daily routine, was the building blocks of a life. Yes, these days were often like the whirlwind of a chaotic dust storm as siblings fight and toys break and milk spills across the table. But hearts were soft and tender with innocence as the world was kept at bay. Like a hen sitting over her chicks, my wings could keep them safe, warmed, fed. A momma has a powerful need for this protection of her babies. Yet babies grow up, as they were meant to, and learn to leave the nest. Still, every now and then, my wings feel too big. Sometimes they miss the pleasure of the snuggling of innocence.
My kids have grown and so has our world. My wings can no longer keep out the knowledge of evil; it permeates life on every corner. It has seeped into the fabric of this world leaving its stain and changing the color all together. If I were a young momma today I would hold on a little bit tighter, a little bit longer and let the stain roll off my feathers and away from my kids. Our wings have a limited time of usefulness. It’s important to work them hard. There will be plenty of time later to rest them at your side.
We can’t control everything that happens in this life; our powers are limited and meant to be so. We are just the creation, not the Creator. While we have the knowledge of both good and evil; we can choose to limit what we allow to seep into us. How much stain are we willing to absorb before it changes the fabric of who we are? Is it time to power-wash the building blocks to reveal the original foundation of our lives? Is it time to remind ourselves who we really are?
The truth is that this evil stain on our world isn’t permanent. It may appear to be so with alarming deception. We may look upon it in horror as we see it spreading out of control. It may feel like a hopeless torrent covering over all the good in its path, stealing all the innocence. But the building blocks of this world have been sprayed with the scotch guard of the blood of Christ, the Savior of this world. The true innocence has been restored, preserved. The world has been under His wings all along. Underneath this stain lies the pure white-as-snow innocence of grace. One day this temporary stain will be lifted and all that will show is the brilliance of His love. His wings are spread wide and there’s room for you to snuggle in. Don’t you want to be cared for?
You see, He too is nostalgic for his children. He isn’t worried about the spilled milk or the broken toys strewn across the floor. He can fix it all. He wants to fix it all. In the simplicity of the daily routine of leaning into His side He covers us over as the stain rolls down His feathers and away from us. But, we must snuggle in…
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust…He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your rampart.” Psalm 91:1-4 NIV