©Joy Dunlap https://joydunlap.com
At 3 a.m. the morning of my departure, my fingers were stuck to the Super Glue package. After moving into our house only days before, I was still packing for the 10-day trip that would take a small group from my church to Gibraltar, Spain, Morocco and England.
My giant suitcase could fit a small human, but right now it was packed full of clothing, toiletries, shoes and who knows what else. Leaving a small amount of space for souvenirs and team gear, I finally finished packing in the wee hours of the morning. That’s when I settled down to do surgical repair on my feet.
Earlier in the afternoon, a neighboring couple who were close friends had come over to pray with me. “Is there anything else we can do for you?” he asked.
“Well, there’s this problem with my feet,” I admitted, embarrassed to share but desperate for help.
Deep gashes and cracks in the heels of my feet had not responded to creams, lotions, ointments, buffing, soaking or even the expert hands of a pedicurist. The toll of weeks of going barefoot on hardwood floors and the two-week process of moving had done its damage. Now I was going to be on my feet for hours in blazing sun and my Hang 10-ers were already about to hang it up. The intense pain was waking me up. Walking was difficult as sharp pains needled into my feet.
“Super Glue,” he prescribed. “Clean the gashes well, then Super Glue them,” he said. “But make sure you do it when you’ve got the time to keep your foot up.”
So, there I was before dawn sitting on the closed toilet seat, gently opening the package my friend, the advice-giver’s wife, helpfully brought over that afternoon.
Minutes later, in an uncomfortable position more easily achieved by exercise enthusiasts, I twisted my foot around – as best I could – to face my face and slowly began to apply the Super Glue. In an attempt to not apply too much and to prevent any spills on the recently renovated house’s new tile flooring, I kept the tube in the package. Pleased with the progress and no problems, I started to put the package down. Only to discover that my fingers were stuck — glued to the outside of the package.
I pried. I pulled. I twisted. No choice remained. I yanked it off.
Rough, red and sore, my fingers held remnants of words from the back of the package stuck to them.
My feet may have been on the road to recovery, but my hands hurt from holding on too tightly.
God wants to be the Super Glue in our lives — to heal our wounds, to mend our messes, to soothe our sorrows — but sometimes we hold onto our personal packages and painful pasts so tightly that we mess up the process.
We want Him to repair the damage we’ve done, to provide us with happiness, and to get rid of the baggage we’re dragging along with us, but we cling to the world’s “instructions” and our own hurts so much that they imprint on us.
Guilt, disappointment, shame, loneliness, grief, unfulfilled dreams, heartache and addiction attach themselves to us. When we attach ourselves to God, to His Word, to His work and in His wonder, we can experience healing in our hearts.
We’ve got to let go of what’s separating us from God. The longer we hold onto it, the tighter the pull and the tougher the pain. He can seep in and seal us with His Spirit but we have to open our hands and hearts – and let Him fill them with His love.
What painful past is stuck in your mind and heart? Ask God to remove it.
What lesson have you learned from an emotional or physical injury?
Why not ask God to replace any disturbing emotions you are clutching with His love, forgiveness and mercy that you can cherish?
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness… And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:22-24; 30-31
Remember…
Life Is Better When It’s Full – Joy-full, Thank-full, Purpose-full and Friend-full! ™
Note: This column does not provide any medical advice nor does it recommend the use of any glue product for medical or non-medical purposes. For any health concerns, consult a medical professional.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255