The Towel

Buzzzzzzzzzzz!… Owwwwwww!

When my youngest child was a toddler he was stung by wasp on a family day out at the beach. He yelped in shock at the unexpected attack. The subsequent redness and annoying itch made it difficult to forget the pain inflicted by the striped insect. 

This little boy was terrified of being stung again; he chose to spend the remainder of the day listening out for buzzing sounds whilst hiding under a towel to put a barrier between him and any potential aggressors. On the few occasions that he heard a buzz, his confidence in the towel shield wobbled and he flung off the towel and sprinted to the sea as fast as Usain Bolt!

My young son spoiled the rest of this beautiful sunshiny day living in fear of being stung again. He missed out on family games and playing with his cars in the sand to sit under a towel; his hurt arm was his only focus.

I’ve hidden under ‘towels’ in the past, hoping that my choice of protection would prevent another ‘sting’ in life. However, all I was doing was allowing past hurt to spoil my present life. 

We may ‘hide’ from potential future hurt by withdrawing from people, controlling, blaming, resenting, distracting ourselves from the hurt, seeking vindication. How have you hidden under a towel? 

We’re not promised a hurt-free life. Jesus was perfect yet people hurt him! We will get hurt. However, we need to deal with our hurt in a healthy way. Living in fear of being stung again just spoils our life. Instead of fear, let me encourage you to trust that in those times of hurt God will comfort you and help you. 

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

 “I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4b

“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

Father, I am sorry for the times I’ve hidden under a towel out of fear of being hurt again. Thank You that You promise to be with me and that I can trust You to bind up my wounds and comfort me when trouble comes. Please help me to focus on You and all that You have for me rather than on past hurt. Amen.