 Devotion: Mom can I eat a worm?
Throwing his backpack aside as he was coming into the kitchen after a long day of third grade, Aaron smiled and posed his simple question. “Mom, can I eat a worm?” Thinking that I heard him wrong I asked him to repeat the question. To my surprise his question did not change. “Where are you going to eat a worm?” I replied. “School, our class just finished reading How to eat Fried Worms,” he explained.
Feeling the nausea subside in my stomach I remembered back to a couple years earlier when his sister was in the same third grade class and having the teacher feed them beef jerky pretending it was fried worms. Discussion on the subject continued as we gathered up a quick snack and started our daily ritual of homework together at the kitchen table.
His sister had now joined in the conversation stated how she thought it “gross that last year the teacher had actually let the kids eat real worms.” Flabbergasted I lead the conversation away to reading minutes and math facts. In the back of my mind I had a nagging feeling it would not be the end of the conversation with my son.
Bothered by the idea of my parenting being questioned if I did let my son eat a worm, I began to engage in the thought that maybe this could encourage him to be a missionary in a jungle knowing he could live on bugs to survive or he was going to grow up to be like John the Baptist. Really I think I was hoping for more of a good reflection on me then a lofty ideal for my son as he grew up.
I wonder, why do we do care what others think? Why do I let others have a hold on me this way? When my son makes a mistake will they say well if she would have trained him in the way that he should go he wouldn’t have done that? Let him eat a worm, SICK!
As these voices rolled around in my head I heard the Lord’s still small voice prompting me, “Care what I think. I have given you the tools to raise your boy. I will be there as your strong tower when others give a strange look or mean word. Answer to me for your choices. I am the Alpha and Omega, I was here before you began and know the number of the hair on your head. I will be here long after you have gone. “As I was reassured by my Lord I began to prepare my heart and stomach to let my son have his wish.
A friend of mine was the substitute teacher of Aaron’s class that week. I talked to her and the event was to happen on Friday. She even asked me to bring the fresh worms. I bought beef jerky for the kids who were not brave enough to try the real worms or whose parents wouldn’t allow them to eat one. Knowing they wouldn’t last I waited to get the worms until Friday morning.
Picking up the kids after school on Thursday afternoon Aaron had a sour expression on his face. Knowing something had happened during the day I asked about what had happened. Aaron blurted out, “Mom, you didn’t send the note so I could eat a worm and the teacher had said earlier in the week there would be no calling home to get permission.” “What in the world! I am supposed to bring worms tomorrow,” I replied.” “Nope, it happened today and I didn’t even get to try a worm,” Aaron snapped back now almost in tears. “Son, I am so sorry. I must have made a mistake or there was a change of plans. I should have sent the note earlier but I thought I would just turn it in when I brought the worms tomorrow,” I said feeling a bit disheartened.
I couldn’t believe I just apologized to my son for not sending the permission slip to let him eat a worm. What a difference a few days can make.
Written by Sarah Read
I am a native to Salt Lake City and am glad to still call it home. My husband and I are raising a blended family with three daughters and a son. As a recent graduate of She Speaks with Proverbs 31 Ministries, I am excited to share about the Lord through my stories. I came to know Jesus when I was five and have walked on my journey with Him ever since. |
