An Unmentionable Mishap

An Unmentionable Mishap

Everything is naked and exposed before [God’s] eyes.

Hebrews 4:13

Because I’m a pastor’s wife, Sundays are hectic and stressful. And that’s before I get to church! My husband leaves early to manage the details of Sunday service, which leaves me at home with our young kids, doing my best to get everyone—including me—up, dressed, fed, and out the door on time.

One Sunday morning I was home with our two-year-old, Brittany, and our newborn, Julia. Bleary eyed from late-night feedings, I poked around in the clean laundry pile to find something for Julia to wear, wondering how someone so tiny could generate so much laundry.

Despite my best efforts to get everyone ready, we were behind schedule. I threw my hair in a ponytail and dabbed on some lipstick before getting everyone into the car.

Thankful for a front-row parking spot, I hastily began to grab my things—infant carrier, diaper bag, purse, Bible, and notebook. Meanwhile, Brittany skipped to the front door, where John, a man from our community group, said hello and opened the door for her. Spying me only a few steps away, John knelt down to chat with Brittany, keeping her close until I could catch up.

When I approached, he burst out laughing.

As I walked through the front door, I saw the reason for John’s guffaw. Apparently Brittany had played in our laundry that morning and thought it would be fun to try on Mommy’s panties. And, apparently, she did not know about gravity—my underwear had dropped around her ankles, right there in the church lobby, for God and everyone else to see!

Cheeks burning, I untangled my panties from Brittany’s legs and tucked them into my purse. John chuckled good-naturedly and said, “Don’t worry, Jen. You’re in church! You can’t hide anything from God.”

Indeed. God knows everything about us—even our “unmentionables”—and loves us anyway.

—Jennifer Stair

Father, please help me to remember that I can’t hide anything from you. My life is an open book to you. Help me to make it worth reading. Amen.