Armor Up

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11

Real MOMent

Recently, during afternoon school pick up, my youngest daughter greeted me. She didn’t come in her usual way, running towards me with open arms for our afternoon hug, but she walked towards me, lifting her shirt to reveal a large scrape on her side. Of course, my next words were, “what happened?” I started to think…I sent my baby to school in one piece, and this is how she is returning home.

I felt some kind of way, but I decided to get back to my feelings later and focus on if she was okay.

She explained that during the transition from recess, another student (who was making their way to the playground) ran into her and knocked her to the ground. She confirmed it was an accident and that the student didn’t mean to push her to the ground. Then she said, “I know it was an accident, but what bothers me is that they didn’t even say I’m sorry or apologize for knocking me over, they just kept running. They didn’t care that I fell down.” My heart dropped. Not only did she have to get hurt physically, but it really seemed like her own heart was wrestling with the idea that someone would act in a way and not think twice about it–or at least stop to acknowledge their actions.

I could hear the disappointment and confusion in her voice. How could someone not care that they hurt someone and check to see if they are okay?

A part of me wanted to go to the school and take names, BUT the other side (a much calmer and rational side) came face to face with a truth that I haven’t wanted to acknowledge…my children are going to encounter people who will try to knock them down or who will knock them down and that person may not apologize or care about the hurt that they cause.

Up until this point, if there was something that happened with a friend, there was typically a discussion and most certainly an apology, but not this time.

On the way home, we talked about a lot of possibilities like. Maybe the person didn’t realize that she fell (she quickly confirmed they did noting that they looked back). Maybe the person hasn’t been taught to apologize when they do something wrong (we hoped that wasn’t the case, but we didn’t rule it out). Through our conversation, it became clear that the struggle wasn’t with the scrape, but with the thought that someone didn’t care that she was hurt and that they were the source. The battle was in her mind.

I kept thinking about her saying they didn’t care, and I realized that if she thought long enough about that idea, the thoughts could change. Maybe she would begin to feel a type of dislike (which could lead to hate) for the person. Maybe she would start to question people’s motives or respond in a way that isn’t who she is (which is easier than remaining disciplined). I remembered Ephesians 6:12 the Apostle Paul writes, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The enemy only needs opportunity, and at this moment that I knew I needed to intentionally level up on the training.

It is time to teach my daughter that every day she needs to put on the full Armor of God.

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MOMent of Clarity

Every day, I have to consciously remind myself to put on the full Armor of God. My vivid imagination takes over and like a scene out of an Iron Man or Black Panther movie, I imagine each piece of the armor attaching to my body, my spirit. It is always ready and charged by an unfailing source of power, but I intentionally taught them how to do the same. Maybe it is how I associated armor with fighting and from that perspective, my kids are too young to wear armor–they don’t need to fight, but the reality is that the armor they need isn’t from Medieval times and my children aren’t facing an opponent who follows a code of chivalry. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.

There is no question of whether or not there will be attempts by the enemy, there will be. In Ephesians 6:13 Paul writes “therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Paul didn’t say if, but when. The enemy who comes, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8); the enemy doesn’t wait patiently for children to become adults.

Whether it is my job, my relationships with my spouse or friends, or even just the internal battle within my own head, when I start thinking, when I am not alert and not mindfully putting on the full armor of God, I find myself overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, in a place of discontentment. My joy and gratitude for the blessings that God has given me seem distant. When I am interacting with people, I find I am less understanding and instead of giving grace, I am annoyed. I allow thoughts that are not true to run rampant and doubt creeps in. But, when I am alert and mindful of putting on the Armor of God, I may be exhausted, but am never defeated–and I want the same thing for my children.

I can do a lot of things for my children, but I can’t provide them with the Armor because that comes from God. I also can’t put it on for them, that is a choice they will have to make for themselves. What I can do is teach them and help them learn not just by words but in my actions.

Each day we live is a blessing and it has its own difficulties, battles we will have to face. The same is true for my children. Regardless of how trivial it may seem, it doesn’t matter because the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s… Armor Up!