WARY OF THE WOLF
‘Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf, the big, bad wolf, the big bad wolf? Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf…..’ Hmmm…how does that song end? Where did I learn it?
That song was singing through my head as I lay in the darkness in my bed. I knew who was afraid of the big, bad wolf. I was!
The dim light from the hall flowed through the open door and into my bedroom. I was glad the light shone into the gaping black hole of the open fireplace opposite my bed, because I could watch that fireplace carefully for the first sign of the big, bad wolf.
This was my nightly ritual ever since Dad had read me that nice new story book called ‘The Three Little Pigs and the Big, Bad Wolf ”. I was tucked into bed and kissed goodnight. Then, eyes wide open, I kept watch on that open grate. I knew what I would do if I saw one whisker or scrap of fur. I would scream for my Dad, and he would come.
I look back on those days and think, “Fear! What ridiculous fear! No wolf was ever going to come down my chimney. I am not afraid of such silly things any more.”
The other day a friend told me, “ ‘Fear not!’ is in the Bible 365 times; once for every day of the year.” I haven’t checked it out yet. But I do know ‘Fear God’ is also written in the Bible. Isn’t that a contradiction? In one place we are told not to be afraid and then in another we are told to have fear. Sometimes I just don’t know what to think!
But this I do know. If I were a wolf cub, I would not be afraid of the big wolf. He would be my father. He would be strong and powerful. He would protect me.
I would be his own little cub and he would look after me.
So now I have come to realize that my fear of my Dad and my fear of God are both healthy fears. This fear is respect for the superior strength, intelligence and understanding they have compared to my smallness. When I accept the parenting of my earthly Dad or my heavenly Maker I am in a place of belonging. I am cherished, protected and saved from any big, bad wolf that might be lurking nearby.
But I still think I will keep one eye open so I can call for my Father when I need Him.
Andrea Kidd
