A Thought for the Day – 031
Ever notice that young sapling as it beings to grow,
if not cared for it will bend with the wind or be crippled by the foot of some
uncaring person or animal. Place a rod of correction near the young plant and
hold it secure with a tether or two and watch it grow straight and healthy. – Proverbs
29:15
Comments and challenges
Four
twelve East Brandise Street, Louisville, Kentucky; Eight Hundred Fetter Avenue,
Louisville, Kentucky these are the addresses of my grandparents, some things just
do not wash out of your mind. I once knew an elderly lady who could not talk;
she lived in the senior housing units that I managed. Whenever she communicated
with people she would write a short note. We could respond with verbal
communication, but she would have to write.
What
is unique about this lady was her desire to sing and on occasion the whole
complex would get together for birthdays, or Christmas and other holidays and
we would sing songs. She knew the words of most of the songs and she sang
clearly and there was no confusion in her mind or her words. As time passed, we
encouraged her to sing more. This was a release for her and always brightened
her day.
For this
lady, her whole life with her husband was abusive. He would not let her talk
and he threatened her continually, he suppressed every desire in her, but he
could not erase from her, her love for singing and her ability to write and some
may think; well at least she had this release, but then again it is all she had
since all the rest was destroyed. Her husband broke her spirit to communicate;
even after his death she still remained silent.
I
get personally angry when I think of the suppression this person suffered. I believe
that I am glad that I never met the man responsible for this person’s stressful
life. Then I hear the LORD say “Jesse would you say that you have the right to
be angry? Or could I find similar traits in your life where you have added
stress in the lives of those who love you simply because of pride and selfish
ambitions?” “Aw; yes LORD you would find selfishness and pride in me and stress
in others”.
How
quick we are to judge one another; even Jonah was abusive to the captain of the
ship and the ship’s mariners. He was abusive to people of Nineveh and he was
abusive to God as well. The events in the life of Jonah are contained in four
chapters, eventually Jonah went to his grave being abusive and yet from all of
this he was delivered. Take a few moments today are read this little book.
All
sad stories have an ending, some turn out happy while many remain open and
without closure. If you look to this world to solve those unclosed endings you
will fail and you will take this failure to your grave. Don’t be a fool! Stop
seeking to solve your stressful problems in life by human reasoning and notice
maybe for the first time – Jesus Christ who gives true rest for the stressed
out soul. Matthew 11:25-30.