Scripture Prompt

Little Children, Keep Yourselves from Idols

Really; how in the world will they do that?

Photo by Mike Arney on Unsplash

Haven’t you figured that out yet?

I remember my mom asking me those words, in a scoffing, brash tone of voice. Like a gangster I’d seen in a movie, trying to bravado his way through being questioned.

And my entire world made a jarring cracking noise as I realized something shattering. Slowly it dawned, like a Winter Solstice sun: My parents — whom I’d trusted with my entire being — had conspired to lie to me, to live an elaborate lie, for many years.

I remember confusion.

And somehow, I was supposed to believe that I had been incredibly dense, not to have figured it out yet. And my own mom was the one ridiculing me for it.

I did not know where to hide; I could not cover my shame. I was stupid enough to believe my own parents’ lies. I hadn’t grown up enough to see through the bubble surrounding me. I must be behind the other Second-Graders, who’d surely figured it out by now….

I never completely believed my parents, again.

Grownups lie

I always watched them, after that night, as if life were a movie shown on a…