Lies – Oh Lord Help Us

Doubt, fellowship, devotional, scripture, foolish, hope, hopeless, love, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Doubt: Eliminating Foolish, Hopeless Lies from Our Lives

DevotionalsAugust 13, 2019August 12, 2019

It’s easy to allow doubt to clog our minds. We must eliminate foolish, hopeless lies that distract us from living for Christ.

My dad manages an auto mechanic shop and he can tell you some crazy stories about clients and their cars. I heard this story about a car and a squirrel the other day on the radio. A lady took excellent care of her car and did all the proper maintenance, however, she noticed her car would not run over 40 miles an hour.

She took it into the shop to see if they could solve the problem. When the mechanic looked under the hood you will never believe what he found! A squirrel had packed her air filter full of nuts!!! The air filter was clogged and the car could not run properly. After the squirrel’s nuts were removed, the car ran like new!

What squirrels do we have in our spiritual lives that are keeping us from living for Christ? Squirrels–I am going to be honest–are one animal I really do not care for. There are so many of them and they are so annoying! Now, I know every animal serves a purpose according to God’s plan, but today we are going to talk about getting rid of the metaphorical squirrels in our lives.

The Foolish Squirrel

The definition of a fool is a person who acts unwisely or lacks judgment. Now I am sure all of us have fit into this category more than one time in our lives. But a fool is also someone who seeks to trick or deceive someone. The foolish squirrel is there to trick us into taking our eyes off of Christ.

A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 18:2, NKJV

If we allow the foolish squirrel to trick us, then we become foolish as well. This keeps us from pursuing wisdom and happiness with the Lord.

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Proverbs 10:8, NIV

I do not want to become a fool and have my life in ruin as I am sure none of you do as well. Let us keep our focus on Christ and let His words bring wisdom and discernment into our hearts and lives.

Remember, when we fear the Lord (reverent obedience), then we begin to have knowledge. The foolish will always despise His wisdom and instruction. The book of Proverbs discusses the foolish and the wise. Get rid of the foolishness and seek wisdom instead.

The Hopeless Squirrel

There were days not too long ago when I felt hopeless. My heart and my life were broken and I felt no hope of ever being happy again. If any of you suffer from depression, then you understand this ache.

On those dark days, you think ‘why bother’ or ‘why should I try?’ This is when the hopeless squirrel comes to fill our mind with chatter. He feeds on our worries and doubts. This is when we know the devil is lurking and must not give in to his lies.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10, NKJV

The Doubting Squirrel

When we give in to the hopeless squirrel, then we allow the devil to place seeds of doubt in our mind. If we are not careful, then we will start to doubt God. We will doubt His love, His will, and His plan for us.

Doubt is Satan’s sharpest arrow. Throughout the Bible, the devil has shot arrows of doubt in the human heart. I think back to the Garden of Eden where Eve doubted God’s warning. The children of Israel doubted God and ended up wandering 40 years in the desert. Sarah and Abraham both doubted God could provide a child in their old age, they even laughed at God.

I encourage you, not to give in to your doubts and fears. Is it easy? No! Is it worth it? Yes!

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is doubleminded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:5-8, NIV

Wow! Do we want to be double-minded and unstable, or do we want to seek wisdom from God?

Hopelessness leads to doubt, which can lead to doubting God. But we will not be double-minded or unstable, we will seek His wisdom! Click To Tweet

Keeping the Squirrels at Bay

Now that we know which squirrels are so destructive to our lives, how do we keep them at bay? Let your faith roar so loudly you cannot hear what doubt is saying!

Saturate your mind with God’s word and His promises. There are many wonderful promises in the Bible that are like gems waiting to be discovered. Hold His words in your heart and recite them when needed.

There are many days when I am driving down the road and the devil brings horrible thoughts to my mind or images that he knows will hurt me. During those times I recite the verses I have held in my heart over and over again. The doubt begins to lessen, the grip of hopelessness fades, and the foolishness goes away.

Stay faithful to the house of the Lord and the fellowship of believers. God reminds us of how important this is in Hebrews.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25, NKJV

We need the fellowship and camaraderie we find in our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need accountability, mutual friendship, understanding, support, and trust we find in God’s people. But, we also need the instruction and guidance we receive when we are faithful to the church. Do not let the foolish, the hopeless, or the doubting squirrels distract us from living our lives for Christ.

Until we meet again…Gracie

Yannick Menard

belief, faith, lies, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Distractions: Completely Opening Ourselves to God’s Existence

Devotionals, Stay SaneOctober 1, 2018January 13, 2019

This world offers a multitude of distractions. It’s easy to miss God’s obvious glory. We even question His existence. “Where are you, God? Make yourself known, be apparent, show up!”

I’ve demanded these things from God way more than I would care to admit. My questions usually happen when I’ve reached the limit of my own power. I have hit my wits’ end. It’s here I find myself questioning God, and how “real” He is. God’s nature is not to be annoyed with us, but I often times picture Him rolling His eyes at me. “I WAS there, Katie. I AM here! LOOK!”

Intimacy

I wish I could experience, just for a moment, the intimacy Adam and Eve had with God. To walk with Him, talk with Him, see His majesty. But, we all know, this isn’t possible until we reach Heaven. Oh, that stinkin’ sin! Just like that, the whole of humanity was separated from God.

But God was ahead of this sin. He knew it would come and prepared our temporary home for it. He poured His glory into every bit of this Earth. His fingerprint is in everything. Everything! He knew our human limits needed the obvious.

For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power.

Romans 1:19-20, TLB (emphasis added)

But Satan likes to make us believe we are alone, that God has abandoned us; He’s not real. That’s so easy to believe because we can’t “see” God in the flesh. We can’t see Satan in the flesh either, so what’s the hangup?

God knew our human limits needed the obvious. He poured His glory into every bit of this Earth. His fingerprint is in everything. Everything! Click To Tweet

Satan’s Distractions

It takes no energy at all to allow our minds to be negative (at least for me). Human nature is prone to negativity, so we believe the lie that we are abandoned.

We either believe God sits high above, allowing us to suffer here on Earth, or that He’s simply not real. It can be easy to believe when we see stories and images that the world is burning. Full of evil. Darkness is our future. But, that’s where those stories stop.

The truth is, our stories don’t stop here on Earth. This is not our end. It’s not our home. What the news fails to remind us is the good God produces through awful circumstances. His good isn’t always apparent, but I promise if we search for it, we will find it. If we search for God we will find Him…

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:17, NIV (emphasis added)

Satan is also practical in his distractions…

“You deserve to sleep in. God would want you to have the extra rest.”

“You don’t need your silent time today. It would be better to catch up on some shows.”

“Are you really going to go for a walk in this heat?”

See how sneaky he is? All of these instances distract us from finding God. Distract us from observing His glory and goodness. I know I allow these distractions on a regular basis. Dare I say, it’s daily?

Human Distractions

Just as our human minds are negative, they are also logical. They have to make sense of things. Often times we think we have to prove God. Whether that be to ourselves or someone else, we feel this strange need to affirm God’s existence. Our humanness is so stubborn and distracts from what God has already made clear…

Do you think you can explain the mystery of God? Do you think you can diagram God Almighty? God is far higher than you can imagine, far deeper than you can comprehend; Stretching farther than earth’s horizons, far wider than the endless ocean.

Job 11:7-8, MSG

God does not need us to prove Him. Human effort will always fail. God has already proved Himself to be real. The only way I, you, or anyone else will truly know His existence, is to open up…

Completely Open

Our eyes, our ears, our minds, our hearts…

When we witness nature, all our senses know God to be real. Interacting with others, we see God’s fingerprint. Reading His Words, the Bible, we comprehend His greatness. Finally, our hearts. When our hearts are open to God, we accept Him as the only truth. Jesus made this clear in one of the last prayers He prayed on Earth…

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:1-5, NLT

When we do our very best to achieve communion like Adam and Eve, you cannot escape God. He smacks you right in the face everywhere you turn. When we completely open up to God’s unchanging, unfathomable, obvious glory, He is inescapable. All the distractions may not disappear, but we are able to combat and overcome when we accept God’s existence.

Oh Lord Help Us, video, honesty, truth, purpose, mission, influence

Honesty and Truth: You Have Purpose, Pursue Your Mission!

Devotionals, Stay SaneJuly 13, 2018July 30, 2019

We can often feel that we have no purpose, or that there is no reason to pursue what we feel passionate about. This is a lie!

Honesty and Truth

Ready for some honesty and truth? Here’s the honest: I often feel that I have no influence. I feel like the message that I am sharing, that I am so passionate about has already been said, and it has been said way better than I could say it. So why bother?

But here’s the truth. We do have influence. God gives us a passion, a mission, a dream, a purpose. In Titus chapter 2, verse 11, it says…

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people…”

All people need to hear God’s good news, and it takes all of us to get that message out. It says a few verses later, in verse 15…

“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

If you are feeling that you don’t have purpose, and that you don’t have influence… dear lady! You are so mistaken, just like I am. Let’s not believe this lie that our words don’t matter. We are to share the good news, spreading God’s truth. So go out there and pursue your mission.

joy, fulfillment, marriage, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, ministry

Fulfillment: Relinquishing Our Earthly Search for Joy

Devotionals, Stay SaneJuly 12, 2018September 8, 2019

When we search for fulfillment on this Earth, we are robbing ourselves of ultimate joy. This world can offer no such thing, and that includes marriage.

Our mates cannot possibly fulfill every need our bodies and souls require. This is not the design for marriage the Lord has in mind. In fact, marriage is to help us better understand the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and His mission here on Earth.

Honor Christ by submitting to each other.

Ephesians 5:21, TLB

Earthly Fulfillment: It’s a trap

We all know, the early days of marriage can be such a roller coaster. At least, it was for Casey and I. After dating for only 6 months, we entered the adventure of marriage. Both fresh out of divorce, and both trying to redeem what we knew marriage should be.

This is dangerous. With every disagreement, screaming fit, or falling tears, an overwhelming feeling of entrapment blanketed. Marriage was unfulfilling, depressing, and worthless. I already failed at it once…maybe I’m just not fit to be a wife and he’s not fit to be a husband. I don’t make him happy and he doesn’t make me happy. How can we do this the next 60 years??

Oh boy. Satan is relentless. Marriage threatens his mission. Godly marriages give him the shivers. He knows there’s power when two people join together to glorify God. His only way to penetrate, is shooting fiery arrows of lies at us. Unfortunately, I was weak, broken, and ready to believe anything…

“Your husband should be your greatest joy.”

“He should be able to fulfill your every want and need.”

“Your marriage is broken, just like you. Give up!”

So, with these whispers, how could I ever find joy in my marriage??

…hop over to Hope & Joy in Christ, where I answer this question and let you in on how my marriage is doing now. See you there!

Satan is relentless. Marriage threatens his mission. Godly marriages give him the shivers. He knows there's power when two people join together to glorify God. His only way to penetrate, is shooting fiery arrows of lies at us. Click To Tweet

Jess Watters

talents, abilities, comparison, ministry, Oh Lord Help Us

Small: Turning Our Two Fish Into A Confident Ministry

Devotionals, Stay SaneJune 6, 2018September 8, 2019

Comparing ourselves to others in ministry is very dangerous. It can stifle our ability to see the big picture. To have the confidence, our two small fish are just as important as five thousand fish.

We all know that comparison is a killer and a liar. It kills our confidence and lies about who we need to be. It doesn’t just happen in personal comparing, but it also happens in ministry. We all want to please God, and because we are human, we need constant approval. When ministry is succeeding and hearts are being changed, we feel validation that we are on the right track.

However, what do we do if our validation isn’t immediate? What if it is the long game? We don’t always see the work of the Lord right off, and we become discouraged. We feed the lie that what we are doing isn’t important or our talents are small in comparison.

Small Dreams

My husband is a dreamer. He dreams so big! I, on the other hand, tend to dream small. The two of us make an interesting pair. Here he is dreaming about these elaborate future plans, and I’m totally cool with the way life is now. Sometimes, this can discourage me. I think, because I don’t have these dreams of grandeur, maybe his dreams are more important.

I tend to surround myself with people who have drive, goals, and energy. They are my opposite and make me feel complete…but I tend to also compare myself. Believing that I need to be like them, I try and try to dream big. To make my life big. I see God using them. Their talents, their prayers, their dreams and I think, “How can God ever use such smallness?” I’m not the greatest artist to live, I don’t have the most beautiful singing voice, I’m not the most social person, or the most eloquent writer.

Small Ministry

Ministry work can be tough. Especially if we have the mindset like I have with my husband. It’s hard enough to combat the enemy when we are in the trenches of ministry. Let alone, combatting the lies of comparison. There are those who have many talents and resources to carry out massive Kingdom work. Then there are those of us out of the spotlight, supporting in ways that are much smaller. It’s easy to say, “I don’t do it for my glory but God’s glory.” And, that’s true. However, it can sometimes feel like our work isn’t really that beneficial. It’s not that important. We really aren’t bringing much for the advancement.

I feed lies like this. ALL. THE. TIME.

“You’re so small.”

“Your talents are worthless.”

“What do you think you are doing?”

“You’re benefiting from someone else’s dream.”

I was having a season where these lies were so loud. It was so hard to tune them out and the louder they got, the more I believed them. I decided I was through fighting these lies on my own. So, I hit THE book, to figure out what God says. I was perusing the Bible, when I landed on John 6. There’s that precious little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. He didn’t have much, but he had the perfect tools for Jesus to preform a miracle!

Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?

John 6:9, NIV

Nothing’s too Small

Without a doubt, Jesus would have found a way to feed the five thousand had the boy not been there. But, he was there with his little meal and Jesus used him in a mighty way. None of the glory went to the boy. All went to Jesus.

So, here’s our lesson: we offer up what we have, lay it on the altar, and ask Jesus to be glorified. It’s so simple, why do we make it difficult? He makes miracles out of the smallest things. There’s nothing too small for Him. We can have confidence our work has value, because God crafted each of us for specific roles in ministry.

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5, NIV

Offer up what we have, lay it on the altar, and ask Jesus to be glorified... He makes miracles out of the smallest things. Click To Tweet

Small Ideas

Read the Bible to elderly folks at a nursing home. Sing songs to our children. Prayer is a small act, with massive results. Create tiny scripture reminders to bless others. Write an encouraging letter and send it snail-mail. It doesn’t take much to show others how GOOD God is.

I’ve really been evaluating what small quirks God has woven inside of me. I believe these are the tools he has equipped me with, to help advance the Kingdom. I would love to encourage you to evaluate your uniqueness too. These are your tools; your ministries. Live them out, find ways on a daily basis to breathe life into them. Allow God to take your two fishes and multiply them for His abundant glory.

Have you been comparing your Kingdom work against someone else’s? What do your two little fish look like? What are your unique ministries?

Sophia Marston

Remembered, God cares, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, ministry, encouragement

Remembered: Being Comforted and Held by the God Who Sees

Devotionals, Stay SaneApril 29, 2018September 8, 2019

We are told to take care of our heart, because that is where the enemy will attack. In these attacks, we may not be able to trust our feelings, but we can trust the God who sees. We are remembered and cared for.

Soon, my son, Evan, and I will get on a plane and fly to Philadelphia. There we will meet with a transplant team that will discuss the possibility of a bone marrow transplant. To say I am beside myself does not seem to give justice to the feelings I have. This is not our first difficult decision where Evan is concerned. He has had something health related going on since birth and we have been faced with tough choices all along the way, but this feels different.

When I share this possibility with people – friends and strangers – they all look at me in wonder. Concerned. Worried. They, just like me, know the gravity of this. It’s not a broken arm. Evan has a broken immune system and its over activity is working havoc all over his body. His joints, his muscles, his pancreas, his colon, and my heart.

The attack of the heart …

Do you ever wonder why we are told over and over to take care with our heart. To know that our heart is deceitful. To take our thoughts captive. And to guard our heart. Because that is where the enemy strikes. He strikes at my heart and that is, at its very essence, my thoughts.

And where does the enemy want my thoughts to linger? Oh that’s easy. God, but not the good stuff. It’s not thoughts like: God will supply and God will show up. It’s thoughts like: how dare God and why would he, and where is he? Just like Hagar. Do you remember her?

So [Hagar] called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.

Genesis 16:13, ESV

Scripture tells us that Sarai gave Hagar to Abraham as a means to bear an heir. But it all went horribly wrong. Sarai became jealous of Hagar. The scripture says dealt harshly with her and Hagar ran off. And in the midst of all this mess, the angel of the Lord came and gave Hagar a command and a promise. And Hagar knew she was remembered. She knew she had dealt with the God who sees.

The feelings that lie…

Often, I tell my children that my feelings lie. I tell them that to remind them and to remind me. I have choices with what I do with my fear and how I view my feelings. As a believer, I have a hope. It is founded in the cross and resurrection of Jesus and in the very character and nature of God. He never changes and he is always the same yesterday today and forever. Satan’s objective is to cause me to doubt that good character and to doubt that God sees and that He remembers. He also wants me to feel that I am being harshly dealt with, that what I am enduring is not a good Father but one I cannot trust and who does not care.

The God who sees…

So what do I do when my feelings feel like the only truth I can see or my thoughts keep finding their way to despair or doubt? This is actually one of the few things I can control. I cannot control what comes into my thoughts, but I can control what I allow my heart to meditate on. That can be as simple as carrying an index card in my purse with a verse on God’s faithfulness or as complicated as memorizing several passages that remind me of what my heart is prone to forget. There have been times when every wall in my home had a scripture verse attached to it. And not beautiful framed verses but copy paper written with markers.

I am in control of so little. But this I know, I can bounce my thoughts to his word and allow his word to develop in me a heart that flees to him for comfort and truth. I too, like Hagar, may find myself fleeing from harsh situations in dry and desert-like conditions. But, I am not abandoned. God hears me and He sees. I can believe that, trust him, and meditate on his good promises.

I am not abandoned. God hears me and He sees. Click To Tweet

You Are Beautiful

Stay SaneJanuary 22, 2017

I acknowledge that my life has been blessed. I was raised by a mom and dad who loved each other, and loved all four of us kids. I still have good relationships with all of my siblings. I married a man who adores, supports, and encourages me. He is hard working and has provided well for our family. My children are healthy, and (most of the time) fun to be around. I wonder at times if others see my life, and think that I have it all together. I’m not sure what they see, but I know that they don’t see it all.

What others may not see…

People didn’t see me when my mom died, and how I lost it at work having to excuse myself from a patient because the tears just would not stop. No one saw the chasm that was growing between my husband and I during that time because we were both so steeped in self-pity. They didn’t see the guilt I carried because I was the only one of my siblings not present when she died. Others didn’t see the whirlwind of busy work I was doing because I wanted to avoid dealing with the grief.

Others also didn’t see me grow bitter when my husband’s job wasn’t enough to support us. Or when he was out of work. They didn’t see the bitterness grow to anger against God when we stepped out in faith to begin a business, only to have years of financial hardship follow.

No one saw the hurt I held on to when rejection from others happened, and then happened again, and then yet again. They didn’t see me sitting in church alone because I was told “no” when I asked to sit next to someone. People didn’t see me crying in the car, begging my husband to not ask me to go back to church.

They didn’t see me as a new mom, completely unsure of myself, not knowing what I suppose to do. Wasn’t I suppose to love this little person, half me/half my husband, right from the start? I didn’t. I felt trapped. I screamed, and cried, and had melt downs. And when the second child came, it all started over again. People didn’t see the bruises on my legs from where I hit myself repeatedly because I hated who I was. It’s hard when you don’t like yourself, there’s nowhere to go to get away. Unless I chose to drink. Yeah, they didn’t see that either.

People don’t see the days that I can’t seem to do anything other than lose myself in mindless activities, trying to find things to do so I can ignore the things I need to be focused on. No one sees me struggle with certain aspects of my faith, questioning in silence because I’m afraid of the response from others.

My life is kind of like my house. It looks clean when you walk in, but please don’t go into my closet, or try to open a drawer. It’s the inside where the mess lies. My life, like my house, can be quite messy.

No matter how good the lives of others may seem, we don’t know what mess there is inside of them. Inside of all of us there is a mess, but… Oh friends, I am so thankful to have a “but” in my life story. I am messy, but God… thinks I am beautiful. When he sees me, he sees someone who is perfectly imperfect. He has taken my messed up life, redeemed it, and is making it beautiful.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6, ESV

How about you?

The Lord also tells us, through the prophet Isaiah, that He will replace our mourning. He will give us beauty. His healing and redemption is what makes us beautiful.

Mourning involves admitting that there is, in fact, a mess. It’s acknowledging the reality of our situation. When we stop pretending, stop running, stop lying to ourselves and others, then we give the Lord the freedom to transform it into beauty.

So… What kind of messes are in your life?

Messy, but God… thinks you are beautiful.

(And I think you’re beautiful too!)

I Am THE Tooth Fairy

Parent, Stay SaneApril 19, 2015July 10, 2016

I try to tell it to my children pretty straight. I figure if I talk to them matter-of-factly, then things won’t be a big deal. We’ve talked about why Pop can’t have sugar (diabetes), why my mom is not alive (cancer), and what those balls of skin are on women (yep, breasts). But there are things that we lie about or lie via omission. Mainly because they wouldn’t understand, or we want to protect their innocence.

A big one for us (and lots of others) has been Santa Claus. I was torn on how to handle this. Growing up the youngest of four, I never had a chance to believe in Santa Claus. I did grow up learning about St. Nicholas and the things he did for others and how that turned into what we now know about Santa Claus. So I figured this is what we would do with our children. But then one Christmas, when my older son was not yet 4, he said on his own that his presents were from Santa. He was not in school, and we rarely watch tv. I was shocked at how easily he believed, and disappointed that he didn’t know the gifts were from us. Now I play into it, but I feel a little bad about it every year, knowing that he will be heartbroken when he finds out.

I was all prepared to draw the line with Ol’ Saint Nick. Then he started talking about the Easter bunny. What the heck! He caught me in a mischievous mood last year and I said, “I have a secret! Dad. He is the….Easter bunny! Shhh, don’t tell anyone!” And that seemed to actually go over pretty well. He actually thought that my husband turned into a rabbit and brought kiddos candy.

My son has now started to lose his baby teeth. It was a long time coming. He was the last in his class to lose a tooth. This tooth was driving me nuts. It was so loose that it would stick straight out. I kept trying to get him to let me pull it, but he wasn’t going for it. Understandably, it was the first tooth and he was nervous about what to expect. I told him that I just wanted to wiggle it (a lie) and I pulled that sucker outta there! I didn’t win any parenting awards that day. He was quite traumatized. Eventually he calmed down and got excited that he had finally lost his first tooth.

Then the fun really began.

“Mom is the tooth fairy real?” Well, crap.

“What do you think?” Smooth, right?

“I don’t think she is.” This might not be so bad.

“Do you really want to know?” Should have stopped while I was ahead.

“Yes.” No! Don’t say it!

“The tooth fairy is not real.” Absolute heartbreak, massive tears, loud sobbing. “You said you didn’t think she was real!” Way to put it on the kid.

“But I wanted her to be!” Crap, now what.

“Okay, well maybe I’m wrong.” Way to really confuse the kid.

“Maybe you just haven’t seen her.” Sure.

“You’re going to believe whatever it is you want to believe.” Like I said, no parenting awards that day.

Of course that night I put a quarter under his bed. But not until I got dressed up. I thought, what if he wakes up. Then he’s going to blame me that I didn’t give the tooth fairy a chance to show up. So I put on a white skirt, a white tank top, white gloves, white scarf, and a tiara (everyone has white gloves and a tiara, right). With my pregnant belly, I was quite the site to behold. Ahh, the things we do for our kiddos. He of course did not wake up, but I did enjoy dressing up. The next morning he came out of his room in absolute triumph, “See mom! I told you she was real!” Sigh.

The next tooth he lost, I was feeling bold and didn’t dress up. I went in his room and started feeling around under his pillow. Stink! I couldn’t find it. I finally find it and he wakes up with my face about 8 inches from his. Quick! Think of another lie! “Are you ok? You were crying. It’s ok, go back to sleep.” Whew, that was a close one!

The next day he asked me if I was the one putting money under his pillow. I told him that I had told him the truth before, but he didn’t want to hear it. But that I had another secret for him. “I am the tooth fairy. Why do you think I became a dental hygienist. It’s my undercover disguise.” Clever, yes?

The third tooth he lost while we were having s’mores and he didn’t even know he had lost it. Not sure if it’s in the yard, or if he swallowed it.

“Mom, will I still get money even if I don’t have a tooth to put under my pillow?” Now it’s getting fun.

“This is an unusual situation, I’ll have to check my official ToothFairy Handbook to confirm protocol.”

That night, I just forgot to put the quarter under the pillow. The next morning I handed him the quarter and said, “I checked the rules, and it states that the tooth fairy can just hand you the money since there was no tooth to collect.” Parenting award granted.

At St. Patricks day he started talking about Leprechauns being real. Good grief. So I told him that his little brother was a leprechaun. Can you guess what we will all be dressing up as for halloween this year?