Bad Haircuts

Do you remember doing something wrong as a kid and dreading your parents finding out? I do! I remember one event vividly. I was in sixth grade and my family had moved from Milwaukee to rural Kewaskum, WI. I was about to start middle school at a new school. My mother took me to get a haircut for the start of the school year and my upcoming back to school pictures. My mother told the beautician what style she wanted and I informed her of the style I was hoping for. The beautician followed my mother’s requests, since she was the one paying her and her tip, and I was vetoed. I was very disappointed and upon arriving home went straight to my room. I was mad, so I took matters into my own hands and cut my hair. I gave myself a nice spiked hairstyle on the top and a mullet in the back. I was pretty proud of myself. It was exactly the style I had wanted and was denied. I cleaned up and my actions hit me. There would be no hiding this haircut. I couldn’t wear a hat in the house. Upon arriving at the family dinner table my mom became furious and my dad as well. They couldn’t believe their little girl had given herself such a hideous haircut and was about to start a new school looking like this. I was sent to my room so they could discuss my punishment. The waiting was torture. I could hear heated discussion and the sound of tears from my mother. What had I done? I knew the punishment might be unbearable. After what seemed like years they called me down to issue the punishment.

I sat down at the table and prepared for the doom. My father said calmly that my punishment was to keep the haircut I had given myself, start the new school with middle schoolers judgement on the weird new girl, and get my school picture taken with the haircut. I couldn’t believe it. I was being pardoned for a punishment. This didn’t seem right. Now I began to really worry. Was this amazing hairstyle really that bad that they felt this would be the punishment. Was I overlooking impending doom from my new peers?

So I started school and took the school pictures. To my parents dismay there was no peer backlash. To their horror two other girls got the same hairstyle because they thought this was the rage in the big city of Milwaukee and they wanted to be cool too. I was spared.

In Isaiah 42:14-21 God is reminding Israel of their sin and reestablishing His law. Israel is almost blind to their wickedness much like I was to disobeying my parents and taking matters into my own hands. God has established His law and we are called to obedience. What sins are we turning a blind eye to in our lives that we need to change. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Don’t let a bad haircut keep you from following God’s law in your life.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, let me see that your law is for my good. Help me to follow you so that I am spared from sin and its consequences. Thank you for redemption through your Son, Jesus. Amen.