"But Who Can Stand Before Jealousy?"

"Mommy, I'm jealous of that girl." Those were the words uttered by the little Poppy-flower of four and a half years of age just days ago. Viewing a sprouting "virtuoso" piano player, a prodigy of only six years of age on the Internet with Victoria pushed those words out of her mouth. (View for yourself below.)

What boldness! No, what guilelessness. "Impressive", was my first reaction when Victoria told me that story. Especially after Poppy then walked over to our own, almost century old upright piano from my great grandmother and proceeded to try to play on her own. With even more pride she said to Victoria, "I don't think she can do this" as Poppy proceeded to strum her fingers across the ivories from one end of the board to the other. "Oh, and you know what else Momma? Her brother isn't as tall as mine." Of course, who's really considering age, that the gifted piano player's brother was only a few years older than her, and Poppy's are almost 17 and now 24, respectively?

Teaching moments like this only arise when a heart is laid bare and the wickedness to conceal is unformed. Victoria jumped right on it like any good mother would. And what jumped on me was both inspiration and amazement. Oh to be so unassuming and innocently confess what doesn't feel right from the very beginning. That's becoming. And oh to be wracked at four years old with a force that rivals few others, including wrath and anger. "Wrath is fierce, and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?" (Proverbs 27:4) I'm both proud of Poppy and fearful for her.

I guess some jealousy drove me to a few lofty pursuits, the rewards of which I was immediately pleased with, but the longing for more insatiable. Misdirected pining can sometimes achieve remarkable humanitarian feats. The more remarkable feat is laying down to lift up. God's jealousy is righteous, and Victoria and my prayer for Poppy (and other "K's" from the household) is to steer the gaze away and to Him.

"Poppy, I'm jealous too. I'm afraid our age difference hasn't wiped that away. At least Jesus wiped it away, and His righteousness can become ours."

With Inspiration & Amazement,

Tom (& Victoria)