Wet Blanket

Deuteronomy 8:5
Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you.”


I know a great man of God- a “Fire and Brimstone” - “Straight Arrow”, it’s “Black or White” old time preacher man- we’ll call him “Eldon”. My darling Phil and I were visiting Eldon’s church one Sunday, many years ago. On this particular Sunday, Eldon was delivering God’s Word to the flock when on the first couple pews, a few spirited young boys were acting up. Eldon saw these boys and right in the middle of his message, just like it was written in his script, he said “Boy’s, you better straighten up or I’ll get all over you like a wet blanket” and just like that, continued his sermon.

I sat there and thought… did he just say that? Yep, he did. Through the years whenever Eldon’s name has came up within a discussion I always think of that memory. And it’s made me question and really think about that verbage “wet blanket”.

Wet blankets are heavy, they cling to you and you really know they’re there because you can feel the weight. The lightest, fluffiest blanket can become heavy if it’s wet. Our lives can be like this at times. We can be experiencing a carefree season in our lives and then sin hits us and just like that, we feel the weight of our decision- the consequence.

The Bible tells us that God disciplines those He loves. He isn’t afraid to “get all over you like a wet blanket’. To call us out- to get our attention.

As a parent, I’ve had to discipline my children, and my grandchildren (that’s really hard by the way) but I do it because I love them. I want them to know right from wrong. I don’t want them to make the same mistakes I made. Some call it “tough love”. And without this kind of love, we’d be lost.

God loved us SO much, that He sent His Only Son to die for our sins… our mistakes, our wet blankets moments. How awesome is that? He loves us that much! What would we be like if He turned a blind eye? If He said “Oh, that’s OK”. He forgives-Praise God- He forgives, but we have to be disciplined at times. When we make mistakes, we need to feel the weight=the love that He gives us and because of that love- that Mercy we become better Christians and better Christians make better witnesses and stronger testimonies!

Father God, thank you for wet blankets! Thank you for your servant Eldon. Thank you that when I fail, you discipline. I praise you for tough love- a love I can’t live without. AMEN