Get Your Fingers! (He he!)
My name is Deisha and I am a finger-sucker.
I never really understood finger-sucking. I guess my thumb just didn't seem appetizing. But, my sweet God daugher practically came out of the womb sucking her pointer and middle fingers. She would get sleepy and before you knew it, those two fingers were in her little mouth and she was sucking away! Two years later, she still sucks those fingers. And, when a visit from the "sand man" results in a whiney, misbehaving little girl, a stern "Get your fingers" does the trick! Before you can bat an eye, in go those two fingers, out goes whiney, misbehaving... silence, peace and rest (in the form of a precious sleeping toddler) are achieved.
A few days ago, my baby girl wanted her mommy to wake up and play with her. She proceeded to nudge and say, "Wake up, Mommy." But instead of waking up, a tired Mommy suggested that her daughter awake Daddy. My baby's response? "Mommy, get your fingers." HE HE!! In other words, that wasn't the answer I was looking for, so... "Get your fingers and be quiet." LOL!
Watch Out, Dr. Phil!
My name is Deisha and I am a finger-sucker.
I never really understood finger-sucking. I guess my thumb just didn't seem appetizing. But, my sweet God daugher practically came out of the womb sucking her pointer and middle fingers. She would get sleepy and before you knew it, those two fingers were in her little mouth and she was sucking away! Two years later, she still sucks those fingers. And, when a visit from the "sand man" results in a whiney, misbehaving little girl, a stern "Get your fingers" does the trick! Before you can bat an eye, in go those two fingers, out goes whiney, misbehaving... silence, peace and rest (in the form of a precious sleeping toddler) are achieved.
A few days ago, my baby girl wanted her mommy to wake up and play with her. She proceeded to nudge and say, "Wake up, Mommy." But instead of waking up, a tired Mommy suggested that her daughter awake Daddy. My baby's response? "Mommy, get your fingers." HE HE!! In other words, that wasn't the answer I was looking for, so... "Get your fingers and be quiet." LOL!
Watch Out, Dr. Phil!
Okay, I am NOT encouraging my God child to have a sassy mouth, nor am I encouraging those of you who have kids to shove a finger in your child's mouth the next time you're on the verge of losing your patience (no matter how much you might want to). HOWEVER, there is a wonderful lesson to be learned in GETTING ONE'S FINGERS. In fact, if Dr. Phil comes across this blog, he might put on his suit and authoritative voice, and sell you on "Get Your Fingers - The New Three Step Program To Inner Peace." But for simplicity's sake, I'll keep it short and remind you that from time-to-time, we ALL need to GET OUR FINGERS... be quiet... welcome peace... and rest.
Step One: Get Your Fingers!
Confession -- I talk a lot. Since most people already know that about me, I guess it's not really a confession, but, it is a fact... and sometimes, I talk so much that I get on my own nerves. I laugh when I say that... and people don't always understand how that can be. But, what it boils down to is self-awareness -- am I adding value to this conversation? Am I making an important point? Am I asking a question that REALLY needs to be answered? Or, am I just talking to talk? If the answer to the last question is an emphatic YES, I know -- beyond the shadow of a doubt -- that it's time (or past time) for me to GET MY FINGERS and shut up! LOL!
Step Two: Shhhhh!!
Out of respect, We are silent while others are talking. Out of reverence, we offer a moment of silence for a person who has passed away. If we can't find anything nice to say, we were taught that silence is the only option. We know not to talk with food (or fingers) in our mouths. Yes, like I said... after "getting one's fingers," SILENCE is the natural next step. And, even if you're one of those thumb-suckers who has mastered the art of talking with a finger in your mouth, I'm sure you have grown to understand and appreciate the power of silence. We have heard various quotes about it -- "There are times when silence has the loudest voice" (Leroy Brownlow)... "Silence is more eloquent than words" (Thomas Carlyle). One of my blogging buddies even wrote about "God's silence" not too long ago ("When God Is Silent" - 1/5/07). And, the Bible says that there's wisdom and understanding in silence -- "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17:28) Let me find out Solomon (the author of Proverbs) was instructing his son to GET HIS FINGERS and shut up! And... since, Solomon is considered one of the wisest men to ever walk the earth, I think we should take his word, learn when and how to be quiet (and I can move on).
Step Three: Welcome Peace... and Rest.
The analogy that comes out of watching my God daughter "get her fingers," submit to silence, close her eyes in peace... and quickly find rest is one that resonated with me over this past weekend when I found myself running my mouth for NO REASON. :-) But more importantly, my baby's analogy speaks measures for how EASY it can be for us to go from whiney (frustrated with work, hurt by family, misunderstood by friends, Chatty Cathy) moments... to peace and rest.
The special sauce in the middle (whiney moment + ____ = peace and rest) is SILENCE. Yes, be aware of yourself... know when to get your fingers and SHUT UP! Why? Because in silence, we hear the small voice that speaks to us. In silence, we realize wisdom and understanding. In silence, we find peace of mind. In silence, our souls find rest.
So, I can stand boldly and say... My name is Deisha and I am a finger-sucker. Are you?
Get your fingers... and be blessed!! :-)
Step One: Get Your Fingers!
Confession -- I talk a lot. Since most people already know that about me, I guess it's not really a confession, but, it is a fact... and sometimes, I talk so much that I get on my own nerves. I laugh when I say that... and people don't always understand how that can be. But, what it boils down to is self-awareness -- am I adding value to this conversation? Am I making an important point? Am I asking a question that REALLY needs to be answered? Or, am I just talking to talk? If the answer to the last question is an emphatic YES, I know -- beyond the shadow of a doubt -- that it's time (or past time) for me to GET MY FINGERS and shut up! LOL!
Step Two: Shhhhh!!Out of respect, We are silent while others are talking. Out of reverence, we offer a moment of silence for a person who has passed away. If we can't find anything nice to say, we were taught that silence is the only option. We know not to talk with food (or fingers) in our mouths. Yes, like I said... after "getting one's fingers," SILENCE is the natural next step. And, even if you're one of those thumb-suckers who has mastered the art of talking with a finger in your mouth, I'm sure you have grown to understand and appreciate the power of silence. We have heard various quotes about it -- "There are times when silence has the loudest voice" (Leroy Brownlow)... "Silence is more eloquent than words" (Thomas Carlyle). One of my blogging buddies even wrote about "God's silence" not too long ago ("When God Is Silent" - 1/5/07). And, the Bible says that there's wisdom and understanding in silence -- "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17:28) Let me find out Solomon (the author of Proverbs) was instructing his son to GET HIS FINGERS and shut up! And... since, Solomon is considered one of the wisest men to ever walk the earth, I think we should take his word, learn when and how to be quiet (and I can move on).
Step Three: Welcome Peace... and Rest.
The analogy that comes out of watching my God daughter "get her fingers," submit to silence, close her eyes in peace... and quickly find rest is one that resonated with me over this past weekend when I found myself running my mouth for NO REASON. :-) But more importantly, my baby's analogy speaks measures for how EASY it can be for us to go from whiney (frustrated with work, hurt by family, misunderstood by friends, Chatty Cathy) moments... to peace and rest.
The special sauce in the middle (whiney moment + ____ = peace and rest) is SILENCE. Yes, be aware of yourself... know when to get your fingers and SHUT UP! Why? Because in silence, we hear the small voice that speaks to us. In silence, we realize wisdom and understanding. In silence, we find peace of mind. In silence, our souls find rest.
So, I can stand boldly and say... My name is Deisha and I am a finger-sucker. Are you?
Get your fingers... and be blessed!! :-)
2 comments:
Needed this today, Dee. Preshinate it! Thanks for the praise song also. "PRAISE HIM!"
You are more than welcome, homie!!! I'm glad God could use my sweet baby to bless me... and me to bless you! Amen? AMEN!! :-)
Post a Comment