by Deborah Towles
Synopsis: Parents provide proper treatment for the bruises and bumps, accidents, and injuries that children experience. Deborah suggests we use such occasions to help them understand that God stands ready to treat our spiritual injuries.
All good parents want to protect their children from harm, yet they must confront the reality that injuries will occur, even under the most careful supervision. Responsible parents remove possible threats, teach awareness of potential dangers, practice and encourage safe behavior, and guard maturing children. Wise parents understand the value of immediate intervention and have a first aid kit handy for when mishaps occur. This focus of this article explores first aid and its corresponding spiritual lessons for minor physical injuries children commonly experience.
Cuts or abrasions that cause bleeding are common with active children. Because blood is essential to life, bleeding must be stopped. Initial bleeding at the site of a wound begins the cleansing process. Wounds should be thoroughly cleansed then covered to prevent infection and promote healing. If infection occurs, it must be fully eradicated to prevent further damage. As blood flow resumes, healing begins from the inside and continues outward. Healing takes time and is supported by good nutrition. Protective scabs form, sealing the wound. Picking at scabs reopens and reinjures healing tissue. This may introduce infection, slow healing, and cause scars to enlarge. Scars are evidence of final healing, but they have no nerve cells. Therefore, wounds that have fully healed should not continue to cause pain.
Jesus is our First Responder, ready to aid the broken and contrite heart (Ps. 147:3; cf. Ps. 51) that is injured as the consequence of sin (Matt. 15:19-20; Jer. 17:9). The blood of Christ is essential to spiritual life, without which we perish, for it cleanses the putrid contamination of sin from our heart (Ps. 38:1-8; Acts 22:16). Not even a hint of its infectious presence should remain (Col. 3:3; Eph. 5:3). Christ's blood is a constant source of cleansing and regeneration (2 Cor. 4:16; Heb. 10:19-22) as we heal from the inside out. His love covers and protects the heart as it mends (1 Cor. 13:4-7; 1 Pet. 4:8). As we learn to love and forgive others and ourselves, we will no longer pick at old wounds (Matt. 18:35; Phil. 3:13-14) but allow them to fully heal.
In time, scars should remind us more of the grace received and the lessons learned from our encounters with sin than the pain and shame of our injurious experience.
Some children suffer injuries to joints or bones. The injured limb needs to be stabilized or reset. If interrupted, blood flow must be restored. Healing is accelerated with proper nutrition and rest. Sometimes physical therapy may be necessary to restore strength to joints/muscles.
We begin life whole, but are too soon broken. Our hearts and spirits are broken by sin. Our families are sometimes broken. Relationships may be broken. The world is broken. Yet, God excels at fixing broken things, mending our hearts (Ps. 34:18) and remaking us in His image (Gen. 1:26; Col. 1:26-27). The all-sufficient blood of Jesus is for our healing (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24). As a healthy diet promotes healing, so the Word of God is powerfully practical, relevant to spiritual healing and growth (Heb. 5:12; 1 Pet. 2:2). Sometimes we must learn to "be still," to rest in the knowledge that our God is willing and able to perform His work (Ps. 46:1, 10). God encourages endurance as He strengthens us for our good and His glory (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 12:1-13).
Small burns can be serious and extremely painful. Treatment for burns include stopping the burn, cooling the burn, and protecting the area so healing can take place. The deeper the burn is, the greater the damage, and the longer, and more painful the recovery.
The destructive practices of wickedness and idolatry burn those involved like fire and provoke the burning anger of the Lord (Isa. 9:18-21). Warnings abound about its dangers (Prov. 6:27-35). Those being injured by it need to be snatched out of the fire (Jude 1:23). Those who reject the purifying fountain of living water, reject their only source of healing (Zech. 13:1; Jer. 17:13-14).
Keeping poisons out of reach of children is wise. Corrosive poisons cause serious damage, and if exposed, poison must be neutralized, or purged to limit its effects.
Idolatry is like poison (Deut. 29:17-18). The poisonous tongue can inflect serious damage (James 3:8; Rom. 3:13). Jealousy and envy are like poison, systemically affecting our spiritual health (James 3:14; Prov. 14:30). Bitterness, left untreated, is a poison that consumes and destroys us. Limiting our exposure to these toxins, and relying on the aid God provides to be made whole again is our only remedy.
God's wisdom can be seen in every area of our earthly experience. Mishaps so common to children provide an opportunity to understand the aid that God is ready to provide to treat our spiritual injuries. As parents, we need to be alert to danger, quick to respond, and ready to teach valuable spiritual principles from these experiences. In so doing, we will give far greater and longer lasting aid and comfort than a Band Aid, a hug, and a kiss can ever give.
Author Bio: Deborah Towles is the wife of Gale Towles who preaches for the State Line church of Christ in Charlotte, NC. Last June, they celebrated their 41st anniversary. Gale and Deborah have four children and nineteen grandchildren. She can be reached at deboraht@carolina.rr.com.
