Broccoli Checker

Posted by: Kathy from Afternoons | Monday, August 26th, 2024 (12:00am)

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; see for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life." PSALM 139:23-24 MSG

I don’t know what it is about certain foods, but often the green ones tend to find their way in between my teeth. Before I know it, I have been talking to people and smiling all day with a massive piece of broccoli stuck in between the most prominent parts of my grill. That is why, I believe it is very important for everyone to have a “broccoli checker.”

This is a trusted friend who honestly and lovingly (and discretely) tells you like it is when they see you’ve got food in your teeth (or any other unsightly thing going on in your appearance). You must invite the person first. Choose wisely. You’ve invited them in to tell you when they see the thing that you cannot see. Why? Not to judge you, not to make you feel less than, by any means, but to keep you from unnecessary embarrassment. I suppose this is also called an accountability partner, but broccoli checker is funnier.

Now, let’s take this a step further. God, our creator, knows everything about us. He knows our thoughts. He knows the root of our anxiety. He knows why we feel bitterness, anger, resentment, hostility...all of it. He GETS us! He sees the deepest part of ourselves that we cannot see. So, it just makes sense to ask HIM if there is any “broccoli in our teeth;” In other words, anything offensive that everyone else can see that we cannot. He is our safe place. He will tell us the truth with love and grace…and He does that for the SAME reason that we would want our trusted friend to tell us when we are “lookin’ a fool”! Not to judge, not to belittle, but to keep us from ridicule and shame and to lead us to a place of freedom…yes, a lot more freedom than broccoli jammed between your pearly whites.

Be brave today and ask him. Ask him to search your heart to make sure it’s clean and “broccoli free.” It’s a bit like standing on a scale after a holiday weekend, but truly it is the best way to begin your journey to freedom…yes, more than freedom from a smile full of greens, but freedom to be exactly who He has created you to be.