There's something in a mother, I think, that makes her asks questions that she really doesn't want the answer to. For instance, a son walks in, or should I say, is ushered into the kitchen with a swelling purple knot on his forehead. I, I mean she, asks, "What happened?" When she hears, "He was hanging a hammer in the tree by the claw," she thinks, of course that is what happened. It would take a hard blow by a heavy blunt object to make that injury realizing that had the claw come down first they would be on their way to emergency room for repair work. A four-year old doesn't understand physics, balance, laws of gravity, etc. but hanging a hammer in a tree while standing under it is just "not a good idea". It is also "not a good idea" to have your brothers and sisters stand on an antique merry-go-round and have them begin to run when you yell, "Go". Spraying a white eyelet comforter with WD40 and tying down the vegetable sprayer in the kitchen sink right before Mom walks up ranks up there with "not good ideas". One of my memorable "not good ideas" involves saying a curse word while standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes with my mother when I was in the sixth grade. I knew better. A four-year old might not know the laws of nature but he knew (if he stopped long enough to think) he was not to play with a hammer and it belonged in Daddy's barn. Some "not good ideas" have bigger consequences than others. Comforters will (usually) wash and Mom will dry off after a good soaking at the sink. Sometimes, thankfully, no one gets hurt and Dad and Mom do not have to explain multiple broken arms and legs at the hospital after an afternoon at the state park. So, what is it that makes a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, or uncle ask those questions we really don't want to hear the answer to? I think it is those "not good ideas" with bigger consequences. It is because we love, really love, the kids and people in our lives. It would not have been love for my mom to allow something destructive in my life to take root. It would not be love to overlook habits, attitudes, or relationships that have destructive potential in the lives of my children. Proverbs 24:3 A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
