Thumby

Our granddaughter Laney was born with an extra baby thumb.  At first, it was so tiny it almost looked like a large skin tag with a thumbnail on it.  I was like, “Let’s just snip it off.”  Well, of course, new parents wouldn’t dream of doing something so crazy.  The doctor said he wanted to wait a while to deal with it as it would need x-rayed to see if it had a bone.  It didn’t feel like it did, it was just a tiny little “Thumby” that hung off the side of her hand.  As she grew, it became almost dangerous.  It wasn’t functional, but it would sometimes get caught on things and we weren’t sure if there were nerves in there, if she would even feel it if it was stuck or getting torn.  She went through a phase of wanting to suck on it, and when we would tell her not to, she’d say “Thumby” like she was comforting this little baby she had.

Long story short, the doctors ended up deciding it did have a bone in it and to remove it would require her being put to sleep.  Molli was very nervous about that, so we waited some more for her to be older.  Last month, Thumby was set to be removed.  Laney didn’t cooperate very well at the pre-op appointment – afraid of the doctors, nurses, the whole bit.  And this from a child who has never met a stranger.  We would play doctor a lot to try to get her to see that the doctors were nice, and right before the surgery, I thought we had it down.  I said, “So Thumby is going bye-bye tomorrow?”   She grabs her hand with her other hand, leaning over to protect Thumby, and says, “Unh-unh!”  I gave Thumby a bye-bye kiss and encouraged Laney to do the same.  She wasn’t having it.  Thumby was hers, she was keeping it, and that was all there was to it.

For some reason, it reminded me of the things we have hanging on us that we know aren’t good for us, perhaps even dangerous – maybe we were born with them, maybe we picked them up along the way – but we want to keep them, because they’re ours and we’re comfortable with them, don’t know how to live without them.  I’m talking about habits or addictions or just outright sinful things that we’ve decided we want to keep, whether anyone says we need to get rid of them or not.  Preacher and God included!

Isn’t it amazing that some of the most destructive things we pick up, others can see them clear as a bell in us and on us, and we stay blinded?  Probably intentionally blinded.  Once I had Laney in Walmart and as we were checking out, she was just sitting in the buggy being such a good girl, and the cashier takes one look at her and says, “What’s that hanging off her hand?”  I say, “Oh, she was born with a tiny extra thumb.”  “Well, why haven’t you gotten that removed?”  Said with an accusatory tone, like this thumb was somehow hurting someone or something.  I said, “Her parents have been nervous about the anesthesia and just wanted to wait until she was older.”  As this conversation is continuing, her becoming more and more forceful and loud, I’m thinking I wish I hadn’t been taught to be so polite, and perhaps I would have just said, “It’s really not your concern, so let’s just check me out.”  That’s not in me.

She continues:  “Do these defects run in your family?”  Stupidly, I just continue answering her questions.  “Well, my sister and I both had sons with club feet, but I’m not sure this is the same deal.”  This woman is unbelievable, truly unbelievable.  She keeps on.  “I wonder if the mother did something or ate something.”  By then, thank God, I was done checking out and I was able to say, “I’m sure that’s not it.  Have a good day.”  As I left, I wasn’t mad; I was just incredulous that someone would point out a flaw like that and just keep on and on and on.  Thank goodness, Laney is sitting there oblivious, thinking this lady is paying her compliments because she’s giving her so much attention.
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As I was pondering this, God showed me that that’s what we’re like, constantly pointing out people’s flaws, things maybe they don’t even realize is something they should be getting rid of.  Do you come from an alcoholic family?  Think you can’t escape that, it’s who you are?  Have a negative attitude just like your mother?  Do you use the excuse that that’s who you are, who you’ve always been, too late to change?  Perhaps it’s more benign – you just can’t help yourself judging other people, seeing their flaws that are so obvious.  Lord help us.  One thing I DO KNOW:  A relationship with Jesus Christ is a game changer, it’s a life changer; it’s a flaw remover, an addiction remover.  There is NOTHING too big for our God – there is no habit, no baggage that cannot be realigned and destroyed and recreated.  Today is the day to decide to remove your “Thumby” – get rid of those things that are just weighing you down, waiting to get caught on something, just waiting to catch you up!