As my girls get older, I find myself telling them not to do something because it’s not “appropriate.” With some issues I go into more depth, but in others that answer just has to be enough for now.
I see the innocent puzzled looks on their faces. How well I remember being told similar things when I was a kid. I knew that my parents had my best interest at heart, and I trusted them even when I didn’t understand. I hope and pray that my children see us in the same way.
As I was thinking about this I remembered a story from my childhood. I must have been about eleven years old. We didn’t have a youth group exactly, but every once in a while someone would organize an activity for all the kids. On one particular night there was to be a talent show. I pondered what I could do as I didn’t consider myself to be talented in any way whatsoever. One thing I enjoyed in my free time was lip syncing songs and performing them as a play. I would work on one until I had it completely memorized and then perform it for my parents who would always applaud.
We had recently watched the movie “Oklahoma” and I had recorded and learned all the songs. So I asked my parents if I could perform one of the songs for the talent show and they said that would be fine. I worked hard on my song with full dramatization and then called my mom to watch it. She had a funny look on her face and kind of covered her mouth with her hand, but she watched the whole thing. Afterward she commented that maybe I should pick at different song for the church talent show. I had this one completely ready I argued, but she shook her head and just said something about it not being appropriate for the church talent show.
As I said, I trusted my parents, but had absolutely no idea why, “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No” was inappropriate. Ha ha! I thought it was just a funny song! Thankfully my parents saved me the embarrassment. I hope my children too will some day have that aha moment for those things they don’t understand now. How I love them!
If I said “maybe” I hope you understood that as “for sure.” You were so cute!