August 2009: lies and delete

 Dear Family, 

 

These letters usually come very easily.  However, today that is not the case.  I have erased several paragraphs, and here I go writing another that may never see ink on paper.  The screen is so safe.  A place for thoughts to appear and then, one button later, disappear.  If only that could happen with spoken words.  How many conversations would we delete?  How often would we highlight our words and frantically seek the key that changes everything--canceling the moment of hurt, altering lies, leaving out anger, and eradicating broken promises, with one tap of the pinky finger?  I would use that key stroke quite often.   

 

One of my teens recently recounted a story to me about someone in her life who was telling people a lie.  The person spreading the rumor was her mother.  How do I, the missionary, explain to a crushed 13-year-old that her mother really loves her and would change her words if she could?  How do I say it so that she will believe it?  How do I say it so that I might believe it?  Given the chance, I do not know if her mom would rescind the awful things she said, but I do know her mom loves her.  Her mother’s love does not look like the love I was given as a child; it is rough and coarse, but it is love. 

 

There is a brother and sister in youth group who show an outstanding amount of love for each other, but as with all sibling relationships, they enjoy squabbling.  They look for moments to offer up offense when they know others will be listening.  They verbally spar until one breaks down and stops interacting, but 20 minutes later they are working together to turn the compost.  They love each other, but I know there are times when they would appreciate the opportunity to hit delete on a hurt they caused.    

 

I am often searching for the delete key on my personal keyboard.  Fairly regularly I am seeking out someone I must apologize to for words spoken in haste.  I would like to think after I have had a conversation, this is a problem and leads to a bunch of “I’m sorry.”  I have learned to think more and not get swept up in the spirit of conversation, and yet I find myself in constant reach of a key that does not exist.   

 

Daily I praise God for “blotting out my sins” (Acts 3:19).  That is Jesus’ way of hitting delete on our sins.  Our God is awesome.  He can overlook all offenses, intentional, accidental, and otherwise.  Please pray that I may be as forgiving as the Father and as loving as the Son.  Also lift up all the teens and families who will be attending camp this month that they will all be challenged by God’s Word and show all His love.