One Step Away From Stupid

Sunday I sat in on a sermon discussing the reality of Satan, a very real enemy who seeks to oppose everything good God is doing. The pastor stated emphatically,

“Really, any one of us is only about one step away from stupid at any given time…”

And I just thought that was brilliant.

It’s the truth y’all.

At any given moment any one of us is only about one step away from doing something stupid, saying something stupid, harboring stupid thoughts that will later manifest into stupidity in our lives. That fact is humbling, humiliating, and should give us all real empathy, love and grace for one another…unless of course we are stupid enough to believe that we are too smart to do something stupid. And then our sin isn’t stupidity or ignorance– it’s just flat out pride.

I thought about my boys. My five sons. I had six girls in a row before God ever gave us any sons, so I just chuckled at the truth that boys especially can be given to…less than well thought out plans.

Since I was raised as an only child, my husband has had to remind me of the dozens of times he, his brother and their best friend growing up just wallowed in stupidity. Like the time they blew out a bunch of windows on a house under construction in their neighborhood with BB guns (it happened to belong to David’s parents). Or the times they dove into alligator infested golf course lakes looking for golf balls to sell. Or when they went out Halloween night and played pranks…or threw dangerous weapons at each other or any one of a hundred such cases and worse that for the sake of preserving some of their integrity I won’t go into– suffice it to say they were stupid boys saved by the love of some pretty tough parents!

But one thing my in-laws got right for sure above ALL else…is that when the boys had STEPPED into stupid, and they were IN trouble– the boys could go to their parents and get help. Yes, they’d be ticked, but before the worst of “what the bleep were you thinking?!?!?!” came out of their mouths they were already figuring a way out, a way to get help, a way to walk WITH their kids through the trouble.

Moms and dads, I’ve learned something over the last 20 years of parenting…

You can be sure that even our best intentions will not keep our kids from being tempted into stupid. I can guarantee you some real jaw-dropping moments of sheer shock in this road we are journeying down called parenthood. And WHEN they say or do something stupid, after you’ve taken your sucker punch of humility, quickly run TO that child and at the feet of Jesus. He knew it was coming all along and He has a way out, an incredible plan to redeem, and an awesome way to grow your faith and that of your child as well as strengthen your bond as a family through the current challenges you are facing!

Make sure your kids know YOU are the place to come to when they step into stupid. Make sure you reach out to your church family, your neighbors, your people you do life with and let them know that YOU are there to help when they step into stupid. Make sure you’re the parent and friend and neighbor encouraging other families when their kids step into stupid and don’t judge or condemn them… Just hold them in your arms and encourage them meanwhile wearing out your bedroom carpet praying for them.

The longer I am in this walk of parenthood, the more I write, teach, reach out to and journey through with other families, the more I see that no one gets through this job of parenting and family unscathed. When we love people so deeply there are bound to be hurts, misunderstandings, mistakes and yes…stupidity. But be of good cheer, we have faith in the One who has overcome this world, and provides a way out of temptation, a way through our own foolishness…and many times as parents, He wants us to be His hands and feet by walking WITH our children through their challenges while holding tightly to His Word and promises.

Don’t Step Into Stupid…but when you do, He’s there for you. That’s guaranteed.