On a recent mini vacation, hubby and I went to an upscale sushi restaurant. For this sushi spot he had to make reservations months in advance. If we wanted to actually sit at the counter for the chefs special, we had to take our dedication to the next level. Limited seating meant the day of we had to wait outside the restaurant before it opened to make sure our names made ‘the list’. All this hoopla sure added to the anticipation of our special meal, and it was well worth it. This sushi spot did not disappoint!
The time of our reservation had arrived and we were escorted to our front row seats. Let the sushi experience begin! The servers brought out water, hot towels for our hands, and our drink of choice. Every detailed was executed to precise perfection.
As the sushi symphony set up continued, the server brought a tiny square box, which contained a perfectly folded moist little towel to clean our fingers between sushi pieces. This little box was placed in the lower left corner of my tray. I watched as everyone else’s tiny box was placed in the lower right corner. I quickly realized the server had figured out I was left-handed. But how? We had just sat down! We had no eaten anything yet. Had I taken a sip of water? Did I use my left hand? At this very moment of my internal contemplation, my hubby took a sip of water using his left hand. Thank you for disproving my theory without even trying hubs! So if it wasn’t the glass, what was my left-handed tell? I was baffled.
The sushi chef also knew about my left-handedness! Each of my custom sushi pieces was placed at the exact left-handed chopstick angle, opposite of everyone else in our little corner group. This mystery was easier for me to solve, as I assumed the chef took the cue from the server’s left corner tiny box placement. Precise perfection.
This attention to detail was next level, and if I am honest it was creeping me out a little. I invited hubby to participate in my left-handed server brainstorm hypothesis. Hubby solved the mystery instantly; he told me it was my watch. My watch? Yes, my watch. My watch that is worn on my right wrist, my watch that was partially covered by my long sleeved shirt. The staff noticed this!?! The staff noticed this because the staff is paid to notice every patron nuance. Thanks to hubby, I now knew the secret to their precise perfection.
Mamas, it is with this same level of precision detail and positive intent that we are created, loved, and pursued by Jesus. To the contrary, it is with this same level of detail and negative intent that we are also pursued by the devil. Satan is studying our every weakness in order to exploit our vulnerabilities. The devil wants us broken in this broken world. Jesus, on the other hand, is pursuing us in order to lend the strength necessary to endure the heartbreaks of this broken world.
Mamas, I know the baby loss journey you are facing because I have walked every painful step. This path is filled with forks in the road, booby-traps, and detours. Do I go right, or do I go left? Do I take the high road, or the low road? Choices, choices, choices.
Mamas, we don’t get to choose who pursues our heart, but we do get to choose who wins our heart.
1. Satan:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
I Peters 5:8-10 NIV
2. Jesus:
“And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger?… Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing….. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing- nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable,- absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”
Romans 8:33-39 The Message.
Jesus wants to build us up, the devil wants to tear us down. Mamas, we are pursued with tenacity; the same tenacity the astute sushi server harnessed to instantly spot my left-handedness. Who is going to win your heart? It is your choice to make, choose wisely.
I choose Jesus!
Ice Baby Ministries 