Meet Petey

We had nothing to do yesterday so, as all married couples do, we headed to Target. We needed a light bulb, a calendar, Eric needed a Caramel Macchiato – clearly Target was the place to go.

We walked around looking at random things. I gawked happily at the after Christmas clearance on sweaters and shoes and accessories, oh my! I’m telling you there is nothing like a Mossimo markdown.

Can I get an amen?

As we made our way to the checkout area we found ourselves walking behind a little boy named Petey. I know his name well because his mom kept yelling it at him.

“Petey! Petey! PEE-TEY!”

She was less than thrilled with his behavior.

I can completely understand that because he was knocking things over as he walked by each shelf.

I have to admit Eric and I thought it was more than funny. What his mom didn’t see (because she was walking ahead of the little guy) was that he weighed the severity of each item he knocked down.

Plastic container filled with potpourri? Knock it down.

Birthday decorations? Knock ‘em down.

Valentine’s Day wreath? Sure, knock it over.

Hallmark Cards? Who needs them? KNOCK.

Glass candle? Um…Pass.

Glass picture frame? Better not. Next.

Table decoration that looks breakable? Moving on.

Little Petey knew full well some knockdowns you just don’t rebound from. I watched his mind reason away the plastic knockdowns as okay because nothing was going to break.

But he would have no part in shattering an entire candle collection.

I thought about Petey all night.

I saw us in him.

I thought about a friend of mine who openly will tell you he believes there are different levels of sin.

“Some sin just doesn’t really count,” he’d say to you.

He’s a great guy albeit misguided.

But you know, I think we do the same thing. We just aren’t as open about it. We don’t want to admit that we think affair trumps gossip every time.

We weigh our behavior, quickly filing it into “plastic” or “glass” when really sin is sin.

We can knock over all the plastic things we want thinking the effects aren’t as far reaching as glass shattering but over time we’re left with nothing but a mess.

And a Father calling us by name, breathing His Spirit into our hearts, urging conviction and asking for repentance.

Psalm 19:13

“Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.”

Kristen writes daily at {dancing} in the margins and also at Exemplify Online. She welcomes you to stop by!