Balloons were everywhere, pink with white polka dots! It was Lila’s first birthday, and the color pink was throughout the house; a natural thing for a little girl with two older brothers. We arrived Friday night before the party on Saturday. Kelly, our daughter, had prepared Chicken Alfredo, green beans, and a great salad. Jake and Josh were seated at the bar for dinner and the adults at the table. Once the boys had finished their meal, green beans and all, I went upstairs with the boys to get them ready for bed. Afterwards, I busied myself with helping Kelly ice and decorate the birthday cake. She had chosen to make a round three layered cake, iced in gray and covered with large pink polka dots, and topped with a little gray elephant. Even the elephant was wearing the color of the day; with a pink bow at her right ear and a pink ruffled skirt at her waist.
The party was a success, lots of cute clothes, a baby stroller, and lots of other “girl” toys. Lila was a mash hit when it came to devouring her little 6 inch gray and pink birthday cake. She enjoyed it so much; it required a bath right in the middle of her first birthday party.
Sunday we got up and headed to church. As the adults were getting dressed, the boys decided to release several of the pink and white polka dotted helium balloons throughout the house. One balloon managed to find its way to the ceiling fan in the living room. With every turn of the blades, the hot pink ribbon wound tighter and tighter around the mechanism holding the blades- to the point that the fan had to be turned off.
After church, once we were finished with lunch, our son-in-law, Robbie, decided to tackle the twisted ribbon that was wound tightly around the fan. He grabbed the stool from the bar in the kitchen to stand on. As he climbed up the cushion began to slide, so he got back down to remove it from the seat. As he lifted the cushion he made an interesting discovery- GREEN BEANS!
Robbie realized that the stool he had chosen was the same stool that Jake, the seven year old, was seated in Friday night for dinner. Jake was adamant that night that he had eaten every green bean on his plate and therefore, he had not only gotten to go play, but he’d gotten dessert as well. Oh, did the tears begin to flow as Robbie confronted Jake. He insisted that he didn’t put them under the cushion. He was sent to his room. Kelly joined Robbie as they went up to talk with him as to what he had done, how he had lied and then hidden the lie. Sounds like a story in the book of Genesis!
Just as God confronted Eve, Robbie confronted Jake, asking him if he was upset because he had lied or because he had gotten caught in a lie. Just like a child, honesty flowed as he answered, “Because I was caught.” I thought of all the times, as a child, I had hidden my broccoli in my dinner napkin, and then asked to be dismissed from the table in order to go to the bathroom and promptly flush that nasty stuff down the toilet, then returning to the table, acting as if I had eaten every bite. I am certain my parents never figured out what I was up to. So often we think we can hide things from God, but He sees all and knows all. Jake had no idea his daddy would use the very stool where he had chosen to hide his green beans to get the ribbon and balloon out of the fan. Because of Jake’s lie and disobedience he had privileges taken away. Adam and Eve were punished and had privileges taken away due to their lie and disobedience to God’s word.
Adam and Eve, as well as Jake, were the ones to suffer for their lie. Lying never pays off, it brings with it great consequences. As Christians we need to understand all we do, all we say, and all we are is visible to God. He desires obedience to His word. If we choose to disobey, and then when confronted with our sin, we try to hide it or lie about it, we are separated from our Heavenly father.
Our daughter said what really bothered her, was that Jake lied and then denied the lie, and when confronted seemingly had no remorse for what he had done. What green beans are you hiding from God? What is it that you think God will never see or know about? Has your heart become so hardened because of the sin in your life that you feel no remorse?
Father, reveal any sin in my life, the green beans I have hidden from you, believing the lie that you will never know. I desire to be a pleasing child- obedient and brokenhearted over my sin. Thank you my loving Father that you forgive and restore, lovingly disciplining me, knowing the person you created me to be.
“These are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift I in running to evil, a false witness that speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
“O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from You.” Psalm 69:5