Walking On Egg Shells

Kristine Cucinotta Murphy

#knowhearts
#giveyourwitness

Yesterday, I sat outside for a bit to get some fresh air, while I look over our children’s weekly schedule to fit in some important meetings with our staff.

Barefoot in summer clothes, sitting in the cool shade, I sat the paperwork down on the table and went to do other things.

I had sat them down, slightly tucked under my heart rock that I keep on the table. I believed they were safe and would stay where they were.

After a good amount of time passed doing other things out in the yard with mine husband, we went inside for the night. That’s when I remembered my paperwork!

I ran outside and they weren’t on the table. That’s probably why I forgot them, they weren’t where I left them in plain sight. They had been blown down on the ground a good piece away.

I set out to get them but, they laid behind the eggs shells I dumped outside the night before. I take a look, questioning if I should or shouldn’t walk over the egg shells. I convince myself, I’m right here to just walk over them to get my needed paperwork. As I proceeded to slowly step over the shells, I felt the cutting pain peircing through the bottom of my feet but, I kept stepping.

I needed my paperwork that bad and I had already felt the pain so, I keep going. After I picked them up, walking back over the egg shells, I told myself, “Wow, this really, seriously hurts.”

When we can’t express or be ourselves with someone, we use the common phrase, ” I have to walk on egg shells.” I don’t know how many people have literally walked on egg shells but, believe me when I tell you it seriously hurts! And, now I literally see why we say that phrase.

People are like my paperwork. We need them, but we also believe they are in a safe place with Jesus Christ and they will be where we left them to do other things; such as all the many things in our busy day.

But sometimes, people get carried away in the wind of negative thoughts and doubts spoken by the enemy. Distance grows between us and we then aren’t able to be ourselves.

We have obstacles to then go through to get to them, like broken sharp egg shells.

But, it doesn’t have to be as painful and hurt so much, if that we shod our feet for protection.

Ephesians 6:15 – And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

I could of easily went back inside to put on my sandals to walk over the egg shells. But, I didn’t feel like taking the extra time to turn around and put in the added effort to protect my feet. Now, my feet are sore with cuts that must heal.

I was reading someone else’s article lastnight on how to deal with children’s tantrums. The main advice given was speak kind, be gentle and make peace. Myself, having autism, I know about tantrums, aka “meltdowns”. They are not a time of enjoyment for me or anyone around me. So, most of the time, I go to be alone and shut myself in from others. But, that is not always possible to do. And, have found myself caught in many meltdowns.

I asked mine husband, “How is it, I can help bring others out of a meltdown, but I struggle to prevent them from having them myself?” He didn’t have an answer. But, being on both sides of those difficult situations of “meltdowns”, I know that is the only way to handle them, by peace alone. Peace is a comfort than can still any violent storm.

Peace does make for peace. I have witnessed it time and times again.

Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

I thought of a time just last week, I was on the verge of a meltdown. As, I immediately shared with mine husband while I read the list to defuse a tantrum with children lastnight.

I had misplaced my favorite black sports bra. I had to have that article of clothing for the outfit I was going to wear. The meltdown started to fill me like a volcano fixin’ to errupt. I could literally feel it burning and brewing up inside of me.

I fell to the floor and started to cry, recognizing I was about to be in a full blown meltdown and I didn’t want it to happen at all! It is misery!!! I can seriously hurt myself and those around me being out of control. And, it is absolutely not who I want to be at all!

There was not a single person present to assist me and calm me out of this start of a full blown meltdown. But, God!

God asked me, “Kristine, is a black sports bra worth all if this?” I said ” No! This is not worth it. I will just go braless!”

I made the choice and decision to leave the heat of the moment, the situation I was in, change my situation and just “forget about it!”

I wiped mine tears, stood up and dressed myself without a bra in confidence and trust that it didn’t matter if I had a bra on or not. And, especially the one “I had to have” at that moment.

I could of easily picked another kind of bra, but it wouldn’t of worked for me. Braless did. And my shirt of many layers covered me enough, it didn’t matter anyways.

Recognition. Being alert and fully armored in God’s armor is how we prevent and can defuse a tantrum aka meltdown.

1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

We all will face times that will try to catch us off guard to lose self-control to blow us away in the wind distancing us from others, separated by broken up egg shells. So, we must be ready to change gears of our mind to be ready in and out of season. It takes a mindset, steadfast and aware of our surroundings and others behaviors of actions and reactions. And, God has blessed us all with that beautiful white garment of humility covered and protected by the full armor of God! But, we must wear them all!

1 Peter 5:5 – Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Ephesians 6:11: – “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”