Don't Say the S-word on Sunday

These are the words that spilled from my mouth in response to my daughter's comment.  I paused, thinking, how would that sentence be interpreted as a stand-alone?  So I typed it into the title bar of my blog and laughed. 

What are banned s-words on Sundays?

Sin...selfishness...stress...scorn (and, of course, the s-word you were thinking!)  These are words with a negative connotation, worthy of consideration and examination, but ones not to be acted out on Sundays...well, any day, if we can help it. 

For fun, I opened my Bible index and scanned the s-words, in search of positive replacements.  Salvation, sanctification, serve, share, silence, song.  And my favorite:  seamless.  It reminded me of a powerful blog by Ann Voskamp called A One-Piece Life. 

The Gospel, Jesus, comes to say life is meant to be all one piece. Jesus embodied the human and the divine. I can live a one piece life, an ordinary life that is wholly sacred, because the Holy Spirit resides within, this body now being the very house of God. Jesus very first miracle, turning the ceremonial cleansing water into wine for a wedding feast, thundered truth and shattered myth: there is no divide between holy and sacred.  -Ann Voskamp

Really, friends, take the time to read her entire blog.  It is transformational.

Are you wondering what s-word my daughter said to stir up such a response in me?  She said, "Mom, you have a Stain on your skirt."  Every mother neatly dressed for church who was ever trying to hurry the family out the door so they might only be 5 minutes late knows this word is dreaded.  What?  I have to go change my entire outfit?  I don't have time! 

But grace swept in.  I looked down at the "stain" to find it was just a bit of pancake flour, easily brushed away.  We giggled as we headed out the door with something resembling Serenity.