Naked Barbies and the Counsel of God

My kids were young, maybe five and nine, and they had friends over for a play date. The girls were in my daughter’s room, the boys were in my son’s room and I was in my comfy chair at the bottom of the stairs hoping everyone would be at peace long enough for me to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Not going to happen.

A few sips into my mug, I heard the boys running to the door of the girls’ room, whispering, laughing and then dashing back to my son’s room. Doors slamming. Whispers. Then, feet running again to the girls’ room, more whispering, more laughing, more dashing. Add to that the muffled cries of the girls from behind the door to leave them alone.

Fine. Coffee interruptus.

I ascended the stairs and walked to my daughter’s room only to find by a curious sight. Surrounding the door frame, duct taped or strung up with twine were several naked Barbie dolls.

???

“Girls?” I entered the room. “What’s up with the unique door décor?”

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” They replied.

“Perfect for what?”

“We were afraid the boys would bother us. We put the Barbies around the door to keep them away. Boys think Barbies are icky and naked Barbies are even better to scare them away.” Like I said, they were young.

“It’s not really working though, is it?” I asked. Seeing the door of my son’s room crack open, hearing giggles, spotting wide curious eyes.

“No! What’s wrong with those boys?” They replied, genuinely perplexed.

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with them. They are perfectly normal boys. Just trust me on this one, girls, that decorating with naked dolls is not the way to repel boys.”

So, the Barbies were put back in their clothes and peace reigned in the house once more.

The boys were just being – well, boys. And the girls were simply operating under their own understanding. If boys think Barbies are icky, naked Barbies would definitely be ickier. I was more amused than angry. That’s what a mom is there for – to guide and direct while children still have limited understanding.

I thought about this the other day when I was tempted to make some decisions about how to handle a situation without prayer. This incident came to mind. I am just like those girls.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 says “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Beyond the problem of sin, often we mess up simply by relying on our own understanding.

God doesn’t judge us for not knowing everything. He knows we need His guidance, His direction, His intervention. He loves to give us the help we need.

We never outgrow His help.

His understanding will ALWAYS be greater than ours.

Check with Him before you decorate your door with naked Barbies.