Saftey Pin

“Miss Stephanie, my skirt is too big!” I turned around and could not help but smile at Naveen as he said this to me. I looked at the khaki skirt he was wearing to complete his Roman soldier outfit. He was already intent on finding his helmet and sword (his pride and joy), but was his intentions were inconveniently being interrupted by the fact that he was now holding his pleated apparel at his waist with both hands…

Sometimes, I feel like that – too preoccupied with keeping myself together and finding I am unable to do the things I really want to do because of the inconvenience of being a present mess. 

“I have a safety pin. Just a minute. Stay still.”

“Stay still.” Those last words must have been the most difficult to hear when all he probably wanted to do was move. The adrenaline from knowing the Christmas program was in an hour and his shining moment fast approaching coupled with the fact that his parents were in the audience was a stark contrast against his statue impression. It could have been the interest of watching exactly how I pinned that made him stay still. But I think that although he watched with unwavering eyes, he was really intent on staying still because he knew what would happen if he moved. He was not watching the skirt’s pinning. He was watching how close the pin was to him and how still he was being. 

But I was watching all three. My work. His proximity. His obedience.

Safety pin. “Safety” - protection, security. “Pin” – to fasten, fix, join. What are the safety pins in your life? (a petty analogy, I know). But really…what are they? Those seemingly small, insignificant things that He places so carefully in our lives for our good – to “keep our skirts on”? The things that are intentionally and perfectly placed to “fasten, fix and join” us to Himself? The things that are for our “protection, security”? The things that we look so worryingly on because we think there is even the remotest chance that He will be careless and we will suffer for it?

But He is aware of all three. His work. His proximity. Our obedience.

Naveen’s parents watched in pride and he threw his lines out before the audience with pleasure. Apparel properly pinned. Props placed. Prepared. And unpricked.

*the program and events of Dec.17^th went wonderfully according to expectation! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! Due to the private nature of those in attendance and at the request of Impact, no pictures will be posted on this blog. However, if you would like pictures, I will be most happy to email them to you!!!! Hope you all enjoyed the holidays! Blessings from India!