Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The WAX Hit the Wall



Combine cold weather, no school, lots of energy, cabin fever, all building up in a seven-year-old Texas boy, and you just might get a combination that becomes explosive.  Such was the combination on our first round of winter weather.

Bouncing through the game room with excessive energy, my son heard my voice repeatedly say, "calm down, don't throw that, find something to do."  His energized ears became deaf to my commands.  Nothing he was doing was very harmful...just tossing a bean bag type pillow up and down in the air.  I was repeating what all mothers say, "don't throw things in the house, you might break something."

Strolling downstairs to fix dinner I heard the voice. "Mom I am soooooooooo sorry.  I didn't mean to do it!"

What was "IT"?

The small, "Cars" bean bag pillow went sailing through the air.  It should have harmlessly made it across the stairs opening to land softly on the ground, had it not first clipped the edge of my Scentsy, melted wax-filled dish.  Who knew such little wax could hit so many surfaces?

I came up the stairs. To my horror, there were four walls dotted with red wax, carpet dotted with wax, the trim of a picture covered with wax, the frame around a mirror turned red and both stair handrails coated with red wax!

It was one of those times where you breathe in very slowly, as not to implode or explode.

My "can-make-lemonade-out-of-lemons" son said, "I think I like the mirror better that way!  I will help clean it up."

Then started the lesson for both of us.  He began to say over and over and over again, "Mom, it was just an accident."  I began saying over and over again, "this was disobedience."



As we started attacking the cleanup, I continued to teach my son and myself.  There are reasons for obedience that we can't see.  An accident isn't an accident when you were told NOT to do something.  He asked when things would be "back to normal"?  To be truthful, the reality is that things don't go back to "normal" after our sin... there are always consequences for our sins.  We might remove the evidence of the sin and be forgiven for it, but the scars of the sin remain.

As my older son and I literally ironed the wax from the wall, I went back in time.   The Lord reminded me that this lesson is one that my youngest son and I will continue to have to learn.  It began in the Garden of Eden.

Gen. 3


Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?
12 The man said, The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

How many times do I excuse my own sin?  How often do I  justify my own sin?  How many times do I call something by another name, instead of admitting it is sin?

We cleaned most of the wax off the walls... and carpet... and mirror... and picture frame... and hand railings. There is still some in a corner, the hard to reach place that shows evidence of disobedience. I think I will leave it for awhile...it is right beside my mirror that says "Courage.  Jesus died for my sins".  His blood did it all.  It takes courage to repent and allow His blood to cleanse me of my sins.  I did nothing.  It is His gift.

Pretty good lesson for this time of the year.  This past year has shown me my heart.  Not all of it has been good....and I too, have made excuses for my sin.

(cleaning hint - you iron the wax off the wall with an iron and paper bag over the wax...you freeze the wax on the carpet and then iron it off the carpet as well - the paper bag lifts the wax right off!... first time for this Mom... and hopefully the ONLY time!)


16 Joining in with more words:

Sharon said...

Oh, what a mess - but what a great lesson you have pulled out of it! I really enjoyed this. And I liked especially how you said that it isn't an accident when you're told not to do something. We humans have built-in *excuse-makers*, don't we?!

I think you did well not losing your temper - I'm afraid I might not have been so patient.

And I loved the hint about the wax. I'll file that away, just in case...

GOD BLESS!

Debbie said...

oh no...well you certainly put a good lesson together out of that mess. I think I might be more the type that would have flipped at the time and thought of the lesson later, haha. I admire your patience. And all those tips on wax cleaning were new to me too, but definitely good to know. Enjoy your day Janette....at least he was immediately sorry and offered to help as well and got a good hard look at how sometimes disobedience brings about A LOT of effort to correct.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

There it is, a perfectly built in lesson, and you handled it so well. Red wax? That's a new one, and yes, I think I'd leave a dot or 2 here and there. What a great reminder of how God's plan works... our 'mistakes' are plain old disobedience most of the time, but we can't go ballistic as we are always reminded of how God has covered our own 'mistakes' (sins)...
All of our human behavior is leveled at the cross, the red wax, and so much worse.
I love B's desire to have things 'normal' again. So cute Janette. :)

Rebecca said...

Great life lesson here....
I'm kind of surprised the red didn't stain the carpet! Happy you had help and most of it has been removed :)

Vee said...

Good life lessons come as we yield our hearts. Such an exciting time in not such a good way. So much to learn from such things about obedience and asking for and receiving forgiveness and having a plan for an icy day!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Oh, wow... I don't think it could be a worse mess. Who would think a candle could do all of that! So many lessons you have brought out in this post. Bless your heart sweet friend!

Christine said...

My heart just STOPPED when I saw the carnage. It always amazes me how you can take a situation and make it a learning lesson.
The teacher in you, is remarkable!

I hope not to use your hint but if I do, I will remember how you handled your grief.
Poor Benjamin. How is he doing?

Maryann said...

Oh my what a mess I'm not sure I would have responded as well. Love how your heart saw it as a spiritual lesson as well. Be blessed friend

Sandy said...

I'm just glad you were able to clean it all up. I think your little guy learned his lesson.
You seemed to have handled it really well. Not sure I would have.
Thanks for sharing the lessons learned.
Hugs~

podso said...

I feel your pain. Ironing with paper towel also works. I know from experience. And I have also had an "accident" with one of those melted wax things. What a good lesson for your son, one he will always remember. May dad would tell the story how he threw the milk bottle over his shoulder to be cocky when he was bringing it in the house against his mom's warnings. It broke and went everywhere. I think this was significant in his spiritual growth--maybe even coming to Christ. My sister carved a picture of a house on our mom's mahogany dining room table. My sister later inherited the table and calls it her grace table

Holly Williams Urbach said...

How fitting that red wax was involved. Kudos for making the most of a teachable moment.

Debbie Petras said...

It's amazing how a time of frustration can be turned into a spiritual lesson. Sorry about the wall but it sounds like you had a great solution. Figures ...I know where to go for stains and such. :)

Love,
Debbie

Angel said...

Interesting, what "accidents" can teach us if we let them.

I loved this, both for the spiritual application and the bonus tip of how to get wax off of surfaces in the house. Great post!

no spring chicken said...

Wow. That's a lesson learned the hard way... of course, many are. I admit that I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw the picture and heard the tale. I can only imagine how you felt. The sin analogy is so true. I too often make excuses for my own or even for others. But there is a fabulous grace analogy in there too. Mamas have to keep their cool in so many situations and I am awed by the patience and love that can be evident so quickly following such an episode. And I am reminded of how much my own children have taught me about unconditional love and how I have been able to better understand my Savior as a result. I've missed my wise friend... it's good to be back.

Blessings, Debbie

Cecilia Marie Pulliam said...

Two things, first, thank you for a great example of holding someone accountable for their actions and yet not crucifying them (however tempted one might be), and second for the great tip on how to clean up such a mess! I hope I never have to use it, but then, Husbands and puppies do make horrendous messes at times, and one never knows which tip will be that life / item savor. Thanks Janette!

Leslie @ Farm Fresh Fun said...

oh ((((hugs))))!!! It's always so wonderful to see the differences yet overwhelming similarities in our lives. This post was perfect! Your family is so blessed to have you guiding them.
On another note, I had a similar mess that I made myself when my laundry room shelf tipped like a see-saw and my blackboard paint went everywhere!!!
I think of you when I need strength and patience with my family. Thank you far away friend. I may not be visiting here as much as I'd like, but you are often on my mind. (Oh how I wish I could catch a special movie with you for your birthday!)
Wishing you PEACE and JoY this season!
xoxo
Leslie

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