Valerie Rae Hanneman
October 2, 2004
Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV)
When Fawn was a senior in high school she went though a real tough time. She got this flu bug that would not go away. She would be sick for a few days, then be okay for a week or two, then she would be sick again. This went on through most of the fall. I did everything the school required me to do, taking her to the doctor and getting his confirmation of her illness, submitting it to the school. So imagine my surprise when I was notified that Fawn and I were required to appear before an attendance board at the school. What in the world was an attendance board? Fawn explained that the attendance board dealt with student truancy problems. Now I was really confused because this wasn’t a truancy problem, Fawn had been sick. I politely listened to this board right up to the point where they told me that if Fawn’s absentee problem continued they would send her to continuation school. That was when polite stopped and “Mom the Dread Avenger” began. The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up, I lowered my chin, and speared them with what my children affectionately (?) call “The Look.” Then very quietly I explained to them that they were welcome to do what they had to do but then I would do what I had to do to protect my daughter. That I would be contacting every TV news room and newspaper, the Mayor of Clovis, the City Council of Clovis, every Clovis Unified School District official and start a letter writing campaign in the “Letters to the Editor” until I had a public explanation of why a young woman who was a leader in her school and her church, a volunteer in the community, who maintained a high GPA, and who for 11 years of school had an exemplary attendance record was suddenly punished and sent to a continuation school because she was having a problem with a re-occurring illness. Then in my quietest (and most deadly) voice I assured them that I would be accepting their apology on the steps of City Hall. That pretty much put an end to that. As Fawn and I walked out I turned to her and said, “I think that took care of it,” and she answered, “Mom they are going to have nightmares about you!”
This is not how I normally am. I do my best to be calm and easy going in every situation - but this was not every situation. They were coming at my daughter and my hackles went up. You see, I don’t care if you come after me because I am strong and you can’t hurt me. But my children are not as strong as I am and they can be hurt. When my children are hurt - it hurts me. In fact the only way that you can hurt me is to hurt my children. I know that is true for all of us. The only way we can really be hurt is though the hurt of those we love.
This is true for all parents and it is true of our Father in Heaven. Father God is more powerful than we can even begin to comprehend. satan cannot hurt God. he would like to think that he can not only hurt Him, but eventually defeat Him. But he can’t - not by coming against Him directly that is. But satan can hurt Father by coming at Him indirectly. satan can only hurt Father by hurting us. When satan hurts us he hurts our Father. But just as I do what is necessary to protect my children, Father does what is necessary to protect His children.
satan hurt Father the first time in the Garden of Eden when he convinced Father’s first children, Adam and Eve, to rebel against the His command. Father protected them by covering their nakedness, and restoring their relationship with Him through sacrifice. When the children of Israel wandered the wilderness time and time again satan used their muttering and complaining to bring them into rebellion against their Father. Time and time again, Father did what was necessary to protect them and bring them back into relationship with Him. After their constant chasing after false gods, Father allowed 400 years of silence between Him and His children, then when the time was right, He sent His only Son to restore all of His children, Jew and Gentile, back into relationship with Him.
Throughout history satan brings us into rebellion against God. The result is that we are hurt and Father is hurt. But every time - every single time - Father is willing and wants to bring us back into a restored relationship with Him.
Father protects us time and time again from what satan does to us and through us. It is what a parent does. And although satan may hurt us here on earth and may hurt Father through us he cannot hurt us in eternity and He cannot take us from our Father’s hand. Best of all - on the last day of time Father will protect His children for the final time when He casts satan into the everlasting darkness where he will not be able to harm us again.
I always tell my children that if they are having problems to come to me and I will take care of it. I tell them that if somebody touches my cub they face the grizzly bear mom. The same protection is available to us through our Father. If satan comes against us all we have to do is go to Father and He will protect us. That way we don’t get hurt - and satan cannot hurt Father through us. And I have a sneaking suspicion that it is better to face a ticked off mama grizzly bear than it is to face an angry Father God.
Father, I don’t want to be used by satan to hurt You. But I know that it is my decision because satan cannot use me unless I let him. Help me to grow strong in You so that I can tell satan to get lost when he comes around me, aiming at You.
Posted by Valerie at October 2, 2004 03:27 PM