Let Us Spray
Gospel
people can go through in a week. Imagine seven heads of unruly hair. We
have light hold, extra hold, extra-extra hold,
extra-ridiculously-stiff-like-your-favorite-whisk-broom hold, and, my
favorite, polyurethane. I've been told that we should stay in
well-ventilated areas when we do hair. And we should never coif near an
open flame.
You might be glad to know that I buy all those varieties of hairspray in
pump bottles- mostly because I worry that if we were an aerosol family,
there would be a hole in the ozone layer right over our house.
Did you know that there are several members of my family who can jump on
the trampoline without their hair ever moving? When the wind blows, the
hair all blows up in one piece. I've wondered if we should install
hinges so we don't have to worry about a big hair flap snapping off. I
think I actually felt my feet leave the ground on one extra windy day.
It’s the “Flying Nun” revisited- and without the hat. We give the term
“hat hair” a whole new meaning.
When Andrew was younger, he liked to use the plastered hair flap on the
top as a spit ball springboard. He said it made a great sling-shot. He
lost many a spit ball in that hair, though. Once I noticed two of them
stuck up there. They looked just like little eyeballs on top of his
head. Boy, was it creepy to look at his hair and have it look back. He
thought it was funny. I'm sure if he'd thought of it, he would have
gibed “Hair’s looking at you!”
At least I don't have to worry about us sticking together as a family.
You know what they say about the family that sprays together. If I ever
see us drifting apart, all I'll have to do is sneak up behind everyone
and press all our heads together. If we're not “chummy,” we can at
least be “gummy.”
Sticking together as a family really has become so much easier- all
hair-do’s aside- since all of my kids have become followers of Christ.
It’s become so much more pleasant, too. I wonder if there’s anything in
life that brings joy to parents like seeing our children come to a place
where they understand their need for a savior and decide to give their
hearts and lives to Christ.
All of us have a need for a savior. Since sin entered the world in the
Garden of Eden, we've all been separated from a holy God. Every one of
us since Adam and Even has sinned. Romans 3:10-11 says, “There is no
one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who
seeks God.” (NIV)
But God loves us in the most powerfully surprising, “hair-raising” way.
Even though we were unlovable, Jesus came as part of God’s gracious
love plan. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 says (NIV). Jesus
lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death on the cross to pay
our sin penalty. Romans 3:23-25 says, “For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a
sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” (NIV)
When He died on the cross, Jesus was taking the punishment for every sin
you've ever committed- past, present and future. Once you've accepted
Christ, you're declared righteous in the eyes of God. Romans 3:22 says,
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all
who believe.” (NIV) Three days after Jesus died, He rose from the dead,
conquering sin and death once and for all. He’s alive! And when we ask
Him to forgive our sin and to come into our lives and take control, He
does just that. We can believe the promise of Romans 10:13: “Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NIV)
When we give Him our lives, He makes us new. His unconditional,
selfless, sacrificing, extravagant love has made new life possible for
all who will receive Him- eternal life. Remembering His provision for
us is reason to praise- the jump-up-and-down-and-rejoice kind of
praising! Oh, that reminds me, better be sure to spray before you praise.