What is it about toddlers and their fascination with Band-Aids?

Yesterday, my daughter was complaining that her finger hurt.  Do I chalk it up to a whiny 3-year-old, who just wants a band-aid, just because. . . or was she really hurt?

I kept looking at her finger and telling her she was fine.  “Honey, there is no blood…. you don’t need one.”

But the whining didn’t stop….

it kept going…

and going…

I finally looked a little closer.  Sure enough, she had a tiny splinter stuck in her cute, little pinky finger.

Okay, I go crazy when I see splinters.  I just have to get them out.  Maybe it is the ‘wanna be nurse’ in me.  I immediately brought her up to the bathroom, and the screams followed.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MOMMY, don’t cut it out!  This did not phase me.  I got out my tweezers, plopped her   placed her gently on my lap, and went for the kill! 

I was trying to be gentle, really…. 

Why is it, that when you are trying to get a splinter out of a toddler’s finger, they suddenly are overcome with HULK-LIKE strength?  Her fight and flight response was sure kicking in.  But I was determined, and I finally got it out.

In case you think that I am a horrible mommy, I then consoled her, kissed her warm, tear-ridden cheeks, over and over.

It’s all better!  Now we can put on a band-aid!  

After this whole episode, it got me thinking.  Am I like this with God?  Do I want to just cover up my splinters of sin, instead of taking the 2 minutes to confess it to my Father and be renewed? 

Sometimes I think I can just throw a band-aid on my sin. . . but the pain is still there!  It covers it up (from the outside) but my heart is still throbbing with pain.  It is a nagging pain. . . until. . .

I come face to face with my Father in Heaven, through prayer and confession of sin.  I ask for forgiveness, and I am made new!  Just like that, I am healed once again.