& I want to apologize to my parents once again for an event that happened 23 years ago... I'm sure they're going to love reliving this all over again... but it has a point... & a purpose...so let's time travel back to when I was 18 years old.
You know... the time where we're all just stupid sometimes...
My parents left to go on weekend trip to celebrate their anniversary & left me at the house. I'm 18, I have a job, I'm responsible... what's the worst that can happen? Right? ... oh man...
So wherever I went, my best friend Stephanie was.. & vice versa... so it's never a surprise to my parents that if I was at home by myself, I'm never really by myself, because Stephanie would be around...
what they didn't know is about 100 of my other closest friends would be over...
& I didn't mean for that to happen... things just got out of control...
You tell one or two people that your parents are out of town & they tell one or two people, & before you know it - the whole street is covered with cars & your house is PARTY CENTRAL...
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| Yeah... my house felt like this.... |
& for the record, I have NEVER been a drinker. People always knew not to even pressure Stephanie & I to drink because our response was always "We don't need that stuff to have fun".... & it was true for us... others? Not so much...
So people are coming into our home, one after the other, bringing their own alcohol, celebrating summer ... in my house
... that was supposed to be a quiet home with me, Stephanie & our old 14 yr old schnauzer eating pizza, hanging out...
Yep... that's what the obedience was supposed to look like...
But how could I tell everyone to leave? I couldn't be the nerd that made everyone go home... I feared what everyone would say if I really put my foot down & told them to get the alcohol out of my house...
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| If only I were as cool as Will Ferrell & Kristen Wiig |
Well, to make a long story - or long night - short ... let's just say, my parents TV ended up getting BLOWN UP with alcohol being poured into it
... by accident... apparently...
I wasn't even there... I just saw everyone running out of the house
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| Yeah.. the TV wasn't the only thing blown up... that's my mind going KABOOM!!!! |
Great...
This is the perfect example of what disobedience looks like...
nothing good... bad results in the end... what starts out as fun ends up with that feeling in your gut that says, "Why didn't I just listen to my parents in the first place?"
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| Ariel understands... after all, she didn't listen to her dad & ended up with HUMAN LEGS! |
OK... let me say that yes, I got grounded... but my parents are awesome. Of course they were angry... of course I got in trouble... but I don't remember being locked up for years & not being fed & being beaten down to a pulp. Nope... my parents gave fair punishment... & grace...
we laugh about it now
Or at least I try to laugh about it now while my parents just shake their head
So when I read this week in our Bible study this passage - I get it...
"We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss"
I mean, everyone knew Stephanie & I didn't drink & they were OK with that...
what would have been the worst thing that would have happened if I told these few (hundred) people to leave? They already knew we had values we held onto...
probably not a lot would have happened except, "oh, that's just Rebecca & Stephanie & how they are"...
& the night would have ended with Stephanie & I enjoying popcorn & pizza watching "Pretty in Pink" one more time on that same tv that was now junk.... a nice relaxing night with a friend, laughing & enjoying the chance at being responsible...
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| Even THIS woulda been a better plan hanging out with my friend... |
The difference between obedience & disobedience...
& I know this is a small idea of that concept...
& it can be so much bigger in our lives...
we fear stepping out to what God has in store for us because we're afraid to obey...
but what do we miss out on? ... the thought of that blows my mind away...
the things I've missed out in my own life because of fear...
But the awesome thing... I think God treats us just like my parents did me. With a lesson that is suitable... & more importantly, with grace...
& a chance to listen to Him again
& a chance to try that obedience thing again....
God, I pray I don't fear following You & your call on my life. Let us remember & know that what you have in store for us is so much greater then anything we can receive when we turn to our own paths....
(& also God, thank you for awesome parents who still aren't mad about blown up TV's.... right mom & dad? right?)
I always look forward to your blogs, because I love all the video clips and pictures!!! Us visually gals really enjoy that ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this: "The difference between obedience & disobedience...
& I know this is a small idea of that concept...
& it can be so much bigger in our lives...
we fear stepping out to what God has in store for us because we're afraid to obey...
but what do we miss out on? ... the thought of that blows my mind away...
the things I've missed out in my own life because of fear...
But the awesome thing... I think God treats us just like my parents did me. With a lesson that is suitable... & more importantly, with grace...
& a chance to listen to Him again
& a chance to try that obedience thing again...."
I am so thankful that he gives us unlimited chances to listen and obey! I just want to become better at both!!! It does seem like such a small concept but is huge in our lives, as the temptations and stressors in daily life can overcome us if we are not listening and focused on Him.
Thanks again for sharing, God bless!!! :)
Also, the title of this made me smile, as we can all relate :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! What our disobedience ends up costing us is always soooo much greater than we think the cost of obeying is going to be.
ReplyDeleteSomeday when we get to meet in real life, can we just sit and compare "stupid stories"? You can knit and I'll... something... But, the parallel you drew here illustrated this point of obedience fantastically. I don't want to miss out on what my obedience will bring. Even if I don't get to see what that is or was until the other side of glory.
ReplyDeleteYesterday He loved you, today He loves you, tomorrow He will love you. Nothing will change. Hebrews 13:8
ReplyDeleteGets me through :)
and that party crashing seemed to happen to a lot of people...ugh! I remember you and Stephanie hanging out...you girls were so cute!
I kind of wish this had happened in the era of social media - just because I would love to see a tv blown up. But that is not at all the point of this post.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great quote from your study. Something I need to remember for sure.
I am so VERY thankful for you that your parents showed you grace. When I was in high school in the 70's, I had a friend who got thrown out of his home because of what 100 people did to his parent's home (so vile and disgusting that I can not share here).
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with us today!!
In His love,
Pat
But what a lesson! Both in your parent's grace and God's grace ......something similar happened when I was in high school and spending the night at a friend's house. Only it ended with police cars! My parents heard about it, but patiently (or no) waited for me to confess!
ReplyDeleteLove your sense of humor and way to pull a lesson out of this story! Your parents ARE awesome :) Great lesson on unconditional love! I look forward to reading your posts more often :)
ReplyDelete