Once my kids were out of their diapers, we went straight to the Pull-Up stage. You know–the big boy pants with the extra padding that protect like a diaper during the transition years when little one’s sleep. I remember going to Costco back in the day with two carts. One for our food and the other overflowing with diapers, and Pull-Ups, and wipes. I had two bedwetters that slept so soundly a train couldn’t wake them, and so these pants were a blessing to us.
Like most kids their age their rooms would get messy. And, like most mom’s my age, I would deep-clean their rooms before we had guests. Unfortunately, one Saturday afternoon we didn’t clean up so well, and in the hub bub of getting ready we forgot a Pull-Up under the bed.
Things were going well that day until I heard a little voice in the bedroom laughing at my 6-year-old son, “You still wear diapers?” he said pointing at the pants on the floor.
With that, my heart sank into my stomach and all I could think of was rescuing him. Standing at the door of his room, I reached out for the diaper, clearing my throat, “That’s mine.” I said. “I’m an old lady and I have to wear diapers for sleeping. How did that get here?”
Yeah, I know I shouldn’t have lied, but mama bear was clawing to get out, and before I knew it she did. Love has a way of bringing out my protective side. Even more so, when it comes to my kids.
As I got to thinking about that today, I was reminded of 1 Peter 4:8 which says,
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8, NIV)
Elliot’s commentary of the Bible explains it this way,
To “cover,” in Hebrew, often means to “forgive,” the idea being that of an offensive object which you bury or hide by putting something else over it; whereas a bitter enemy will rake up every old grudge again and again, one who loves will not allow even himself to see the wrongs done to him by a friend.
And again, we read,
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9, NIV)
I’m reminded that gossip ends where love begins. That words have the power to divide friends. And that forgiveness is a bandage that covers the deepest of wounds in the process of healing & restoration.
I’m reminded that my sin has been covered, and that I’m deeply loved.
Subscribe so you don’t miss a post:
Tilling the Soil
Practice loving this week by reminding yourself that gossip ends where love begins.
Planting Hope
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8, NIV)
Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
Instagram: @timewarpwife
Pinterest: @timewarpwife
Twitter: @timewarpwife
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife