Holes or Holiness

Suppose you had only one pair of socks to wear every day and

they were extremely worn. Let’s say the heal of those socks were

wearing thin and were full of holes. Then suppose someone noticed

your holy, worn socks and offered you a brand-new pair, a real thick

pair of socks. A pair of socks that were cushy feeling and kept your

feet warm and well protected. What would you do? Would you keep

the old ones because they were worn-in and somehow comfortable

to you or would you gladly take the new pair?

This may sound like a strange question, but this illustration fits

our lives. The worn socks are in effect our lives. Lives that have been

shattered, hurt, and damaged. Lives that have major holes in them

because of events in our lives. Things we will not let go of. Things

like hurt, anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. Perhaps others

caused the holes. Holes that were not created by you, but you won’t

let go of them. Are you determined to hang on to them, so much so

that you cannot let go of the old and reach for the new? The new

socks represent forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, peace, joy, trust,

and love and yet in order to receive these you have to let go of the

old.

Ephesians 4:31 tells us, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger

be put away from you along with all malice. And be kind to one

another, tender hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ

also has forgiven you.”

Sometimes we get so comfortable that we don’t know how to

change or to even accept change. We decide that we’ll make the

change when the other person that hurt us makes the first move.

That person, one needs to realize, may never attempt to make the

move you’re expecting, but you can. Unforgiveness causes holes

in our lives. Pretty soon the hole will get so large that the bottom

falls out. The weight of bitterness and anger builds on top of

unforgiveness, and it gets out of control.

You cannot go back and undo all the hurts and wrongs done to

you, but you can choose to move forward. You can choose to do

away with holy worn out socks and choose to be clothed in Christ,

and always be warm, perfect, and always protected and loved. If you

have holes or worn out places in your heart, let go of all of it and let

Him cover you in His love and peace. Decide what you really need

and desire. Is it “Holes” or “Holiness?”

What About You?

1. When have you felt like getting even with someone?

2. Are there holes inside your heart that need God’s loving care?

From Gods Garden Tools by Gina Burns