My Daughters are Porcelain Dolls

I was watching the new Wizard of Oz movie last night and came across the scene where Oz discovers a broken porcelain girl hiding behind a table in her house.  I couldn’t help but compare this particular scene to my own life and my ability to parent two beautiful little girls.  

(Photo: Disney Pictures)

 

The porcelain figurine can be used as a very appropriate analogy if we think about the daintiness of our daughters.  The similarities are striking.  We mold our children as they grow, right?  We dress them in outfits that we like and we generally push them toward activities we enjoyed as children.  Our children learn through our verbal direction and through the observed actions of mom and dad.

Our children are also capable of being broken.  As a fairly new parent (two children – both under 3), I find that this weighs on my mind the most.  I always tend to dwell on how many different ways they can break.  It takes everything in me to hold it together when they get their shots.  I can hardly even look at the photo of Rielle when she had tubes protruding from her nose and an IV in her little arm.

(Photo: Disney Pictures)

When these things happen, I can’t help but see this little porcelain doll.  It is standing before me and it is chipped.  Or maybe something was broken off.  Oh how I wish the fix was as easy as a dab of glue!  Physical boo-boo’s will heal.  I have a harder time thinking of things that I will not be able to fix no matter how hard I try.  How does a father mend his daughter’s broken heart?  How does a father take away the hurt when his daughter is mocked in front of others at school?  I wish I could block pain from their lives.  I know that I cannot.

I have my faults as a father.  I can be better in so many ways.  I find comfort knowing that the only molding that truly matters comes solely from our Heavenly Father.  He is perfect when I am not.  He will protect, heal, and mend when I am incapable of doing so.   He loves unconditionally, while my emotional responses are varied across the board. 

Heather and I can only do what is humanly possible.  God will do the rest.  And if my little porcelain dolls ever break in an irreparable way, I know I will see them again in perfect form.  I find comfort in these things.

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"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."  -  Mark 10:13-16

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."  - Proverbs 22:6

Christians: We Have Culturephobia

            I walked into a Tattered Cover book store today and found the 3’ x 6’ section dedicated to Christian children’s stories.  I figured these little books would shed a child-like light on a few of the biggest events seen within the pages of scripture.  As I flipped through the pages with my little girl, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment rush over my body.

            I’d rather not quote the book directly so, instead, I’ll give you the general idea.  One of the pages says that once we become closer to God, all of our problems will go away.  

        This one statement exemplifies the problem within the Christian church.  How many times have we heard the speaker say, “I became a Christian and my addiction to alcohol just disappeared.  I became a Christian and I received a random check for $4,000 right before the bank was about to repossess my house.  I became a Christian and my cancer just left my body.”  

            Don’t get me wrong.  I believe that God can heal and do anything.  There is no question in my mind.  And I do not reject the stories that I hear.  I take issue with the sales pitch used to catapult the non-believer into belief under the pretense that something miraculous will happen the moment a relationship with Christ is procured.

         So in the case of this children’s book, it feels as though I am setting my girl up for disappointment once she starts to engage culture outside of our little protective bubble here at home.  Essentially, I am telling her that everything is going to be fine and she will never feel pain in her life if she is a Christian.

         Really?  What about the bullies? What about the physical ailments?  What about the boys that will reject her?  What about failed relationships or lost jobs?  What about divorce or a still-born child?  What about sin? 

         I’m not necessarily upset solely at the book and I will continue to read it to her.  I am concerned because it serves as a reminder that we continue to paint the Christian life as some magical balloon that floats high above society out of harms way.

         Newsflash:  When you become a Christian your problems will not disappear.  God probably isn’t going to send you a check and He’s probably not going to hook you up with that Twilight vampire actor?  What’s his name?  Dave, right?  Your problems will continue and you will go through some rough times.  

            There is no question, however, that your life will change.  Your relationship will begin to drop anchor on His words and some of your prayers will be answered, while many will also go unanswered.  You’ll discover that a relationship with Christ becomes less about what you receive during your time here, and more about where you will go once you have breathed your last.  Our time here is merely preparatory.  So how are you preparing and who are you inviting to come along for the ride?

         Our goal is to reach people the way Christ would have reached people if He was here right now.  I think He’d tell it like it is, no punches pulled.  I think that He’d tell a beautiful, relevant story.