The 'Nail'

When I was a small child I loved nails; the ten penny nails. They were cool to the touch, strong and smooth, and the new ones seemed to have a special shine. We kept the nails in a drawer in the ‘little white house’ in front of our trailer house where we lived. The ‘little white house’ was small, quant and used for storage. At some point in my childhood the front room of the 'little white house' was used as an office for my Dad’s business.

From time to time I would wonder into the ‘little white house,’ take out a nail, hold it, feel the weight and strength and then return it to the drawer. One sunny afternoon I got the ‘bright’ idea to place 4 of those mesmerizing nails under each tire of my dad’s car. I was too young to consider the consequences.

I went to the ‘little white house,’ removed 4 specially selected nails and began to place each nail at just the right angle of each tire. I was very pleased with myself and the job I had accomplished. I walked around the car surveying a ‘job well done.’

The next morning I went out to play. Glancing over at the car, I noticed my nails were gone. I quickly ran to the ‘little white house,’ removed 4 more specially selected nails and placed them with just as much care as the day before, under each of the tires. I dusted off my hands and ran to play.

That afternoon my Dad approached me, “Monalea!” “Yes?” I answered with a smile. “Are you putting those nails under the tires of the car?” He asked. I could see from the downward turn of his usually smiling face that my ‘job well done’ was not a ‘job well done’ after all. Taking a deep breath, eyes down cast, I answered, “Yes sir.” The silence was deafening as I waited for his next words. It seemed forever before he replied….”Don’t do it ever again. It is costing me lots of money to fix my tires.” Then he ruffled the hair on top of my head, smiled and walked away. The realization of what those nails had accomplished hit me.

It wasn’t until years later that I fully understood what a different type of ‘nail’ had accomplished!

Acts 2:23 “This Man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the Cross.”