“So he told her everything.” Judges 16:17a (NIV)
One of the most cherishing moments in my life is experiencing dialogue with my mother each day. The conversation between a baby boomer and a millennial can be debatable, as well as informative depending upon the topic of discussion. There is one particular statement my mother makes concerning my generation and thereafter, “nothing is withheld, you all just share it all.” I wrestled with her about this, but after deep contemplation my mother had a great point. What happens when we leave nothing to the imagination to wonder because we just give everything? After giving it all we then experience moments of disappointment, hurt feelings, heartbreak, etc.
Samson this biblical character falls in love with Delilah in the Valley of Sorek. Anointed from birth as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. Delilah, the one Samson loves, is on assignment to discover the secret to his strength and paid a substantial amount of money by the rulers of the Philistines. After several failed attempts Samson finally tells Delilah everything. This indicates to me that telling it all wasn’t just a problem of today but yester year also.
I pause in this midweek manna to ask, what do you need to withhold? What have you shared that if given the opportunity to take it back, you’d do so in a heartbeat? Who have you told everything to that has arrested and exposed the source of your strength? Samson told her everything and it led to great moments of pain. You can read how the story ends for Samson at the end of Judges 16, but how does your narrative play out in withholding? What lessons have you learned from telling it all? I close with these words, NOT TOO MUCH!
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