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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Do you use protection?

It was almost dinner time; I was in the kitchen with my new baby trying to figure out what to make for dinner. This was a difficult time in life, our family was living in a rental home, and I had three kids under the age of 5. I was battling depression; there was just not much I found funny.

I was trying to keep up with two boys running in opposite directions and having a brand new baby. Tired was my middle name at that time. Sometimes when you are not even expecting it God shows up in the smallest way, but in a mighty way. I remember praying to the Lord how I am feeling crushed on all sides, this is not the life I had planned. I wanted the three kids, but I wanted a nice house with a white picket fence. I wanted to have the big smile on my face, lots of girl friends and tons of family all around. This was not where God had me. So as I was planning dinner, I was crying out to God. I was telling him how tired and weary I am, I think I did a lot of whining to him to be honest. I kept asking, how am I going to survive?

You know when you have two toddlers in your house and it is quiet, that is not always a good thing. But the Lord used my boys to teach me. I was appreciating the peace and quiet; all messes could be cleaned up later I rationalized. I was standing at the stove beginning to brown my hamburger meat for dinner. Then I hear, “Mom we have something to show you, but don’t look yet.” Any Mother with boys know the phrase “we have something to show you” is like opening up a can of worms (sometimes literally). So I played along, feeling my pity party heart, and taking to God. “Are you ready Mom?” they giggled. My curiosity was beginning to grow, what did they get themselves into I thought.

Suddenly before my eyes I had two little toddler boys jump out from behind the wall yelling, “nothing can get us now, we have our shield and protection on.” They each had a superman cape tied around their necks blowing behind them, and all over their body (up the legs, up the arms, all over their chests) were taped maxi pads.

“Mom, we can battle anything with our shields,” they said in their loud Superman voice. At first my eyes were as big as saucers, and then I laughed and laughed and cried and laughed some more. They then proceeded to run around the house pretending to fly and dodging all evil and bullets that may come their way. For they were protected.

After I called every relative I could think of and share this story, and their Father (oh manly man was so proud). The Holy Spirit hit me with a 2 by 4. And I heard this voice almost as clear as day say, “Do you have your shield on? Are you protected? Where is your amour? Where is your protection?”



Therefore, take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the
evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm
therefore, having girded your loins with truth,
and having put on the
breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation
of the gospel of peace.
(Ephesians 6:13-15)

Belt: To a Roman soldier his belt was an essential part of his armor. His belt gathered his armor together and secured his sword to his side. The belt also served to secure long garments so that they would not interfere with fighting. The belt tied it all together.
It is truth which ties together the believer's armor (John 8:32).



The Breast Plate of Righteousness: The breastplate protects the vital organs of a Roman soldier. It is righteousness which protects us in those vital areas of our relationship with God.
Without it we will be susceptible to every temptation Satan brings along. (Mark 14:38)

Boots of Peace: The Roman soldier's shoe served much the same purpose as a football player's spiked shoe. It was made to help the soldier stand his ground and advance on his enemy. Traction was very important. Most combat was hand-to-hand. A soldier could not afford to be pushed backwards. He could not afford to fall down.

It is the gospel of peace which enables us to stand firm. We can stand secure knowing that we have peace. Peace with God as Romans 5:1 talks about, and peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7).

So from that day, while fighting my pity party I began to clothe myself in protection. I strongly believe my “protection” is what helped me through more difficult days to come. And from now on, whenever God reminds me of my sweet boys and their shields, he is reminding me to arm myself for battle. For with my armor, evil and bullets can be deflected. Also, I will be the first to say God has a GREAT sense of humor!

Almost 10 years later, I was riding in the car talking to my teenager this week. He was sharing how Satan has been tempting him, and when he wants to do something wrong he almost feels a physical pain in his heart. I shared with him how the Holy Spirit guides us between right and wrong, and sometimes God allows these temptations to exist in our life so we can depend fully on Him. Knowing we can not battle the temptation on our own strength, but ask God for strength. And now I have the honor to share with my son what tools God gave us to fight off all sorts of evil and bullets that come our way. So he can say once again: “Mom I can battle anything with my shield,” in his loud Superman voice.

Are you armed for battle? Hard times will come, this does not prevent that. But to have the right armor for battle is everything, it is the difference between winning or losing. So I ask again. Are you armed for battle?

Was this what you were thinking of when you read my title.....yeah, I thought so. Have a blessed day, don't forget to laugh.





I am sorry to say there were no pictures, this was before the digital camera age....believe me I wish I had a picture. Can you image the bibery I could get out of that now?? =))

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25 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOL your boys nust haved a real sight

Thanks for the timely reminder

April 10, 2007 at 10:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You crack me up, Laurel. Too funny about your little boys using the pads in a way that would protect them.

Yes, I have my gear ready. It is always on. You never know when you need to stand your ground.

Thank you for encouraging words and the big smile you have put on my face.

Blessings to you and yours.

April 10, 2007 at 11:24 PM  
Blogger Susanne said...

Lauren that is absolutely too hilarious! I'm laughing so hard I"m crying envisioning your boys using those sheilds. And then envisioning your manly man's face when you told him. :vD

And what I just love the most is how God used this to teach a most important lesson.

Thanks for sharing with us the story and the lesson.

April 10, 2007 at 11:43 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

Thanks for making me laugh, and think.

April 10, 2007 at 11:59 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you so much Laurel for allowing the Lord to use you in such a special way. That reminder came at the right time. The Lord's timeing is always perfect. Your son sounds like he is growing up to be a fine man of God. You are raising him well.

~God Bless you and your family,
Jen

April 11, 2007 at 12:29 AM  
Blogger Terri | Sugar Free Glow said...

LOL, that is too funny. I hope you took lots of photos!

Great message, Laurel. Thanks for sharing!

Blessings~

April 11, 2007 at 5:59 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

Tell us - do these boys KNOW what they did those 10 years ago? Did you get a photo?

Priceless!

April 11, 2007 at 6:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So adorable :) We had a similiar story 12 years ago but no Maxi Pads. My now teenage son told ME the other day that he really wanted to try smoking and pot. Damn--Way too much information for mom. I felt that I needed to handle this well.

I took a deep breath and calmly said that It was his choice not daddy's or mine. To remember that if he chose to go this route he should go lick an ashtray because that is what the girls would be kissing.

If he chose to go the drug way to look at Ozzie Osborn. He is so drug dead now. He looks and acts like a very little child.

My son--gotta love him...Mom made you look. I am not going to screw up my life with that junk and why would I smoke? It makes you smell really bad.

Breathe Mom Breathe. Between you and me and the water cooler I have 5 more years of this and then I will miss him and his sister terribly. Breathe...

April 11, 2007 at 7:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laurel,

You are slaying me here. LOL... I will delight in this story all day.

to have the right armor for battle is everything...... Laurel, what more needs said! Love this!!!

April 11, 2007 at 9:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a fantastic memory, replete with an object lesson in the faith. Can't you just see yourself at church teaching a children's Sunday school class with maxi pads as your visual aid? CAN'T YOU JUST HEAR THE PHONE CALLS FROM PARENTS AFTER???

A precious story, one that needs to be told over and over again in your own family. Gosh, laughter is divine!

If you have pictures, you MUST post them...pretty please???

April 11, 2007 at 9:38 AM  
Blogger kystorms said...

thank you for the words of encouragement, I need them most of all today. I am very happy to have found this space, and hope to be here reading every day from now on.

God Bless you all

April 11, 2007 at 9:38 AM  
Blogger Chris @ Come to the Table said...

Laurel,
Oh, I have experienced the same scene, right in the middle of my difficult day, God uses my children to make me take my focus off myself and laugh with great joy and than He speaks to my heart.

This will be one that is told over and over....

April 11, 2007 at 10:09 AM  
Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

You just reminded me how much I'm going to miss the fun mommy days when they grow up.

It's hard to see the fun when we're so wrapped up in the stress of it all, but some days they manage to get through to us.

Great post as always. :)

April 11, 2007 at 11:10 AM  
Blogger ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

Oh the image I'm getting (lol). Great post and thanks for the reminder. I need my shield today.

April 11, 2007 at 12:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you , Laurel. I needed this--I also think it is time to have my eyes checked--I have honestly been avoiding reading this new blog because the font is too small--in fact the only reason I did now was because I remembered that Firefox has a neat little ctrl++ thing that allows you to enlarge the font, which I had to do twice before I could read this.

Great story and very true. Thank you for sharing it!

April 11, 2007 at 12:29 PM  
Blogger cajunquilter said...

What a great story. and what an awesome reminder that we must put on the armour of God every day.

thanks for the wonderful comments you have left me.

April 11, 2007 at 1:04 PM  
Blogger Christine said...

Oh, for the love of boys!!! Thanks for a wonderful story to freshen up the scripture. I love how you tied it all together.

April 11, 2007 at 1:11 PM  
Blogger GiBee said...

My word that's funny ... but you're right ... sometimes God shows up in the smallest ways just when you're not expecting it!

April 11, 2007 at 1:28 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Oh LW, I'm laughing with you, too, and even got a little teary thinking about what a wonderful cold drink of water it was for you during that time in your life.

April 11, 2007 at 3:51 PM  
Blogger Faerylandmom said...

I'm sure my kids will do the same thing in the near future. :)

Thank you for this. The Lord knew I needed it today. :)

April 11, 2007 at 5:13 PM  
Blogger Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Yeah, well at my house we have 'really huge QTips with strings hanging out of them'....Oh the horror of seeing that hang out of your boy's ear...:))

Thanks for the reminder of the armor Laurel...As much as I've heard it I can not tell you the times I leave pieces behind...

Great thoughts!!

April 11, 2007 at 5:18 PM  
Blogger Pearls of Wisdom said...

What a wonderful story. Thanks for the reminder of the armor Laurel it is so important for us Christians.

Angel

April 11, 2007 at 8:37 PM  
Blogger Crystal said...

What an amazing picture you just painted....I loved the superman story...and I just love how God teaches us the smallest things through our kids.....
Blessings

April 12, 2007 at 2:12 AM  
Blogger Rebeca said...

So funny! When I was young we had a little girl stay with us who had fetal alcohol syndrome. She was tiny and spunky and she came out of the bathroom one day with pads stuck on her face!

April 12, 2007 at 10:18 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

Ahhh this is such a wonderful funny story...I have had so many laughs today and just as I am ready to head off to sleep I have another..Thanks for this...It is great to hang onto quotes and stories from our children...Mine are all grown now but I often let them in on some little things thay have said...

April 14, 2007 at 9:03 AM  

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