Eating Worms

The refreshing breeze blew in through the open window over the sink as I washed the dishes. I watched my two preschool daughters playing in the grass below. The beautiful day and view of my children made me a happy mama.

The peaceful scene was disrupted by a wail. "I'm going to tell Mommy on you!"

"Okay, okay, you didn't really eat a worm." The oldest started the damage control fast to keep from getting in trouble.

This tale is a family favorite from twenty years ago and it still brings a chuckle. But, I've often wondered how my four-year-old convinced my two-year-old that she ate a slimy, disgusting worm. Wouldn't you know something like that, for sure?

Then I wonder how often I actually swallow some of the disgusting half-truths and flat out lies served to me by Satan - the Father of Lies. I am afraid, more often than I should.

I am so quick to believe:

• I'm not pretty enough
• I'm not spiritual enough
• I'm not skinny enough
• I'm not a good enough parent

And the list goes on and on.

It is at these time that I must ask God to let me hear His truth. Let me see myself as He sees me. I want to know how He feels about me. The only way to do that is to dive into His Word and arm myself with His words to me.

For starters, I reread Zephaniah 3:17--God's own love letter to all of us:

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will take great delight in you;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

That is a message I can swallow and it beats eating worms.