Tangles

The other night, after Corrie's bath, I was gingerly combing through her wet hair, carefully trying to loosen the tangles.  Gentle combing got most of them, and spray-on conditioner was certainly helpful too.  But if you've ever combed the long, wet hair of an active toddler, you know that ultimately, there are some tangles that only come out one way:

Sometimes a momma just has to pull.  And it hurts.

I protected her scalp the best I could, of course.  I carefully gathered up the most stubborn tangles, leaving some "slack" in her hair as I worked out the knots.  But when all other methods failed, I had no choice but to give those tangles a good tug.  I do this because I know how beautiful her hair can be.  I know that the momentary tugging will produce a head full of bouncy, blonde, healthy waves. 

And a funny thing happens.  She fusses at me plenty when we work out the tangles, but when we're done, she happily climbs into my arms.  She trusts me.  She knows that the same momma who does the tugging and pulling is the same momma who feeds her, who sings to her, who holds her when she's sick.  I prove my love to her in a million little ways, so that when the occasional hair-pulls come, she doesn't doubt me. 

It's a silly little analogy that still demonstrates an important truth.  God tugs at me when He has to, when it's the only way for Him to achieve what is necessary for me.  I don't like it.  It hurts.  Sometimes it really hurts.  But do I trust Him?  Of course.  How could I not, when He proved to me once and for all, on the cross, how much He loves me?  May I always trust Him with the same child-like abandon with which my daughter trusts me.   

Comments

[peach]

You are truly amazing. You know that, don't you? All I think of when I am combing out the tangles in my girls' hair is how quickly can I make an appt. to get it cut off!

Thanks for redirecting my thoughts and giving me fresh perspective on what God can be doing in the process. Have a sweet, tangle-free day!

[Shalee]

Love that analogy. It makes me want to crawl up into God's lap right now, so sweet is the feeling of trust and thankfulness and love I have for Him.

Thanks for sharing your great insight with us and reminding us to trust He who tugs.

[Melissa @ Breath of Life]

Shannon, thanks for sharing that one! I love finding God in everyday things (which reminds me, I need to go to Everyday Mommy & participate in Everday Things today!)

Anyway, I was just thinking about my next WFMW post ~ keeping my daughter's thick, wavy hair from tangles! Can't wait to post it...my hairdresser gave me the tip & it's worked like a charm! I'll email it to you ahead of time, if you'd like ;-)

[mimi2six]

I'm always amazed at how God teaches us about Himself and His dealings with us in the small experiences of life. You have brought to our attention a perfect analogy of the walk of faith. Thanks.....I needed that!

[crickl's nest]

Oh that is a sweet story...and analogy. Makes me miss having little ones....brushing the hair of sweet smelling, freshly bathed toddlers! Wonderful!

Thanks!

[kris]

thank
you
you have no idea how I needed to hear that

[Kristen]

Great analogy Shannon! It's so true, too.

I relate with the hair combing thing, too. Before I can even get through the tangles, though, I have to pin them down which is a huge struggle because they know the pulls and the combing tangles are coming.

[Kilikina]

What a great idea!

[Beck]

Have you tried the detangling spray? I was doubtful of it's magical powers, but it really, really helps.... I also use a lot of conditioner, comb her hair out while it's wet, and braid it pre-bed so she doesn't have tangled hair when she wakes up...
No, I didn't miss the theological aspect! It was lovely!

[the sassy lime]

that is a very sweet analogy. unfortunately, all my memories of tangles include sister screaming and crying! lol. my mom kept my hair cut short when i was little b/c my older sister was so difficult about getting her hair combed out!

sorry, totally off topic. thanks for that sweet analogy. :)

[Shannon in Arizona]

good analogy thanks for the post :)

[dcrmom]

Excellent analogy. And btw, any recommendation for a good detangler?? My daughter's hair is a mass of tangles ALWAYS. And it's not even very long yet. *Sigh*

[Susie]

I have to do a little pulling each day with my six year old's hair too. The detangler sprays tend to make her hair look oily and dirty so I don't recommend them. I have tried using my conditioner on her hair which works pretty good. Great analogy!

[Faith]

Great analogy! Trust is a beautiful thing. It is so heartwarming to have your child crawl up into your lap and love on you after "hair-tugging" or even discipline. Very sweet post!

[momrn2]

Not a silly analogy at all.. in fact, I thought it was absolutely, wonderfully beautiful! And to think, as God's children we must all have "long hair" because there seem to be so many tangles! :-) At least I know for me there are!! :-)

Thanks for such a wonderful post!

[Holly]

Wow. That was really beautiful. Really.

Thank you, I needed it so much today.

[Keziah]

I have SO many memories of sitting at my mother's knee with her pulling the tugs and tangles out of my hair! I like the analogy.

[Southern Girl]

Oh, I love that analogy -- I've experienced both kinds of tangle tugging in my life, but also the loving comfort afterwards. Beautiful post.

[Domestic Goddess]

Beautifully said!

[Kim]

That was really great!

[BID]

Hi, New here. That is very well put.

I hate Suave products, but, they have a kids shampoo/conditioner (it's all in one) that keeps the tangles away. The one my kids like if blueberry blast or blitz or something. We have gone from sitting on her to get the tangles out to combing sanely with a wide tooth comb.
I'll visit again soon. Good luck with the tangles!

[Homeschool Mama]

Wow. That was a great way to remind us that God still is there to comfort us no matter what we are struggling with.
Thank you.

[Rabbit]

Sweet, Shannon. :) We just found Paul Mitchell "The Detangler" conditioner. Some of the drugstore brand conditioners were too heavy for my daughter's hair, but this is a lightweight conditioner that makes wet hair combout a piece of cake!

[Tammy]

Did you read my post about almost the same thing a couple months ago? You'll have to scroll down to A Mother's Tale of Hair Woes...only the difference was that I couldn't point to an anology because my four year old still pouts and is angry for a few minutes afterward! But I guess that could be an analogy of some of us too...:)

[Susan]

Ooh I thought this was going to be a post about hair nits for a second! It was much nicer than that though. :)

[PastorMac's Ann]

Wow Shannon. Nice job and great reminder. Isn't it wonderful how He shows Himself to us in the smallest things in life!?

[Christina]

Good point.

[Susie]

This is lovely. Just lovely, and just what I needed to read tonight. Thank you for being you, Shannon, and for giving us all ways to see our Lord and Savior in a sweet new light.

[Jennifer]

My mom was a tugger! There was rarely a time that my long, waist length hair didn't have some monster tangles in it. I learned quickly to comb my own hair (seriously, I was probably 4 or 5 when I started doing it myself!), and I also developed a 'hard head'. My sister (now 26) still has a very sensitive head! We're always laughing about it because I know she & I had the same mother...

[Nicole]

I love this. I really really love this. Great analogy. I love it when people can look at everyday things and use it for God's glory in stories like that. Thanks for sharing.

[GiBee]

Beautiful analogy Shannon. Child like abandon is so hard for an adult to fathom, and this analogy puts a perfect picture in my head. Thank you!