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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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!

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15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just ordered a book by Jerry Bridges(Acceptable Sins) about this very thing. Love the analogy of how we as Christians do seem to think there is a difference in sins and that as long as we stay away from the glass ones we're ok...hey, nothing broken after all when we choose plastic ones.

Plastic sins, glass sins...in Matthew 5 Jesus teaches about this. Pharisees condemned murder (glass sin) but the motive behind it was acceptable (anger, bitterness-plastic sins), but Jesus disagrees. He focuses on the attitude not only the act...can't separate the glass from the plastic.

Have a blessed day! Thanks for the post.

February 24, 2009 at 4:51 AM  
Blogger Shannon Jacobyansky said...

Great post today! You gave me a chuckle as I pictured the boy weighing things and deciding what to knock off the shelf. I guess he figured a way to get out of Target and stop mom from shopping...LOL!

February 24, 2009 at 5:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

very nice post with very nice message. sometimes we could learn from a little child to realize what is wrong with our life.

February 24, 2009 at 5:51 AM  
Blogger Beth in NC said...

That is GREAT Kristen. Petey makes me giggle, but so smart to compare his actions to our own -- weighing out the costs in sin. A sin is a sin.

Wonderful post!
Beth

February 24, 2009 at 6:13 AM  
Blogger Denise said...

This is a fantastic post.

February 24, 2009 at 8:24 AM  
Blogger Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Great post. This is the stuff I need to hear. I need to weigh those plastic bins as carefully as that precious vase. Sin is sin.

February 24, 2009 at 5:11 PM  
Blogger Deb said...

How easy it is to think those "little sins" we do, doesn't really matter. Thanks so much for reminding me that sin is sin. All of it breaks God's heart.
Blessings..
Deb

February 24, 2009 at 6:41 PM  
Blogger Debbie said...

Much needed message for everyone! Was wondering what version Ps. 19:14 was in? loved it!! God bless!

February 24, 2009 at 6:59 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I think that even if we SAY we don't believe that there are different levels of sin, at times we can live like there is. Very good post!!!

February 24, 2009 at 7:17 PM  
Blogger elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Love the little mind of Petey...a mind that reasons well, albeit defiantly.

I have a few Petey's in my house; I see him in the mirror sometimes...constantly weighing my options and the outcomes therein.

What an interesting parallel, Kristen. You always draw them so clearly for me.

peace~elaine

February 24, 2009 at 8:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We all have a little Petey in us!

i have always wondered how people can justify one sin over another. Why do some believe homosexuality is worse than being a liar? By being a worrywart? A thief?

Like you said: sin is sin. We're all sinners who need to accept God's grace and be forgiven. No matter how big or small our sins may seem to earthly eyes, they're all the same in His.

Thanks for a great post!

February 24, 2009 at 9:14 PM  
Blogger LisaE said...

Loved this post, so plain to see and to the point! Thanks!

February 24, 2009 at 11:26 PM  
Blogger BizzieLizzie said...

Oh, loved the post this morning. Yes, my Lizzie has shown me numerous ways to be a better Christian and mother! It does take a child sometimes, doesn't it!!

February 25, 2009 at 7:07 AM  
Blogger Susan D. said...

I love this post! We learn so much from watching little children!

February 25, 2009 at 9:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great parallel. So true, too, that we need to be so careful not to treat one sin as less "sinful" then another. All sins are filthy to God.

February 25, 2009 at 9:30 AM  

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