Little Hands in the Sand
Posted by Andrea
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (John 8:7-8)
Yesterday, the weather was wonderful, so the girls and I met some friends for lunch and a playdate at a local park. The entire park was bustling with activity, but the gathering spot of choice for the youngest children was the sandbox.
As the children played in the sand, one little boy’s mother smiled as her son proudly hoisted his bucket of sand and showed it to her. However, his mother’s smile disappeared a split second later when her son poured the entire bucket of sand onto Sugar Plum’s head! Nearby parents gasped and little ones pointed at both the boy and Sugar Plum. I could feel anger rising inside of me, but knew I needed to remain calm and not create a poor example for my children.
As I bent down and tended to Sugar Plum, the mother knelt down and reprimanded her son about his inappropriate behavior. After speaking to her son, she turned to me and offered several apologies. Even though I had never met this woman, I could tell that she was sincerely sorry about what her son had done. I said nothing and gave a short nod to acknowledge the mother’s apology, but I remained visibly annoyed until I looked over her shoulder saw some children using their fingers to draw in the sand.
Right then and there, God used those little hands in the sand to speak to my heart. As I watched the children draw, I recalled Jesus’ reaction to the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees had brought the woman before Jesus and explained the law dictated that she be stoned to death for her sin. When asked what he thought her punishment should be, Jesus overlooked the Pharisees’ questions and began to write on the ground with his finger. The Pharisees continued to question Jesus until He spoke and said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
When I reconsidered the sandbox situation, I realized how inappropriate it was for me to harbor any hard feelings toward this mother. Every now and then, our children make poor choices or engage in unacceptable behavior that catches us off guard. My children are no exception. In fact, I can vividly recall more than one occasion in which I had to offer up an apology on behalf of my child. I was in no position to throw a stone at this mother!
Sugar Plum, in her typical resilient style, was still eager to play after I dusted her off. Though grains of sand were still caught in her hair, she thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of her playdate. I spoke to the little boy’s mother and thanked her for her apology and we chatted for a minute or two about the spontaneous nature of little children. During our brief discussion, I could see relief on the mother’s face. I was grateful to God for using the sandbox to teach me a lesson about extending grace to others, a lesson I often need to be retaught.
That afternoon, as I shampooed the sand out of Sugar Plum’s hair, I was reminded that God often chooses to show up at the most surprising times and in the oddest places. In addition, His divine lessons often feature a variety of unconventional instruments. I did not expect to meet The Master in a dusty sandbox full of playful children, nor did I expect Him to teach me a lesson using such little hands in the sand.
Thank you Lord for offering me such a valuable lesson and for using a few little children to lead me!
Photo: Courtesy of wickenden (Flickr)
i am so deeply moved. i’ll be thinking on this one for a while.
So glad to provide you with food for thought!
Those hands in the sand remind me to look even closer…at me…and discover again that I am not without sin and, therefore, so thankful for grace.
Amen to that Deidra! So true! God’s grace is indeed amazing.
Oh I loved the lesson learned that you shared! What a beautiful reminder and the grace given to do the right thing!
A great lesson indeed!
: ) i gave a copy to a friend, who then read it in church on sunday.
A public reading? Wow!
That sandbox experience is one that reminded me that God is all around us and eager to instruct us.
yes, a public reading! and it was well-received. i’m so glad you were listening to the Lord when He spoke to you that day, and that you were willing to share your experience. He is good.`