Shannon is the talker in the family. Me – not so much. So I know whenever Shannon stops talking, something’s wrong.
Yesterday was Haircut Day. It was the second Haircut Day since the coronavirus turned the world upside down.
As I sat in the chair with Shannon using the same electric clippers she uses to shave the dogs, a pair of scissors and a comb, she was talking away. As Shannon got around to cutting the hair on the back of my head, she gasped and didn’t say another word. That’s when I knew something was wrong.
After what seemed like an eternity, Shannon said, “I am so sorry. I cut your hair a little too thin,” which is code for, “I just gave you a bald spot.”
I flippantly responded, “Don’t worry about it. It will grow back.”
While I tried to be casual about the fact that Shannon had scalped me, inwardly I was trying to picture what it looked like. The longer I worried about it, the worse the images became. Was there any hair left on the back of my head? Did I look like I had mange? Did she also remove the skin? Was I bleeding? Was bone exposed? Did I need to go to the hospital? Would I be maimed for life? Would I have to shave my head to blend in the gigantic bald spot? The list of “what ifs” and “woulds” went on and on…..
I could tell Shannon felt terrible about almost sending me to the hospital because of a haircut because she continued to profusely apologize. Finally, she was done.
As Shannon walked out of the bathroom to get a broom and dustpan to sweep up the pounds of hair she had removed from my head, I quickly stood up, grabbed a handheld mirror and turned to see my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
As hard as I stared, I could not see what Shannon had been so upset about. There was no bald spot, no blood, no bone, no reason to go to the hospital. That was the moment I realized what had happened.
My perfectionist wife had somehow cut my hair in a way that she didn’t think was perfect. And wanting to always do everything just right, in her eyes it looked bad, but to me, there was no problem. In fact, she had given me a great haircut. That was the moment I recognized something else.
As I sat in the chair with Shannon cutting my hair, I visualized how bad it would be when I actually saw the back of my head. I was worried even though I didn’t know if I really had a reason to worry. I had let the “what ifs” dominate my mind. Jesus would not have approved.
If you ever want to see what Jesus thought about worry, read Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus was not a fan of worrying because it robs us of the joy of this day; this moment. Instead we are consumed about what may or may not happen in the future. God wants us to live for today.
That’s why Jesus said, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34)
While you may not have a wife who tries to remove your head with a pair of electric hair clippers, more than likely, there will be something that tempts you to worry. Don’t do it. Live in this moment and know that for lack of a better term, “God’s got your back.” I am certain that’s what God wants for you.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, in those moments when I am tempted to worry, remind me that there is nothing that I cannot face as long as I hold your hand. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
In a few more weeks, it will be another Haircut Day. I am not going to worry. It will grow back.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 