An Ungrateful Mower

I was mowing recently and feeling pretty ungrateful. My hands had blisters because I had to keep gripping the mower and picking it up every so many steps to keep the long grass from clogging it up. It was hot. I didn’t feel good. The sticks the mower picked up kept shooting out the back and hitting my legs. My foot hurt. When I had to turn the mower off, I sometimes couldn’t get it started on the first pull. I was ticked.

As the sun beamed down and the degrees gradually grew on the thermostat, I had a flashback in my life. It was just under one year ago. I was riding in a truck down a busy and mass populated area. There were small patches of grass on the road medians. Every patch seemed to have an old woman sitting on it…mowing. The mowing was a bit different than what I did though. They didn’t have gasoline to fill up a machine to cut the grass. They sat all day with hand clippers slowing cutting away at each blade. The sun was hot, and they sat all day clipping. This is a day in the life of many Ethiopian women..the blessed ones that have a job and a source of income. They hand clip grass and are probably thankful to do it.

Was I thankful? I was thankful to be done when it was over. I wasn’t nearly as grateful as I should have been. I was blessed with the mower, the gasoline, clean water to drink when I was hot, clean clothes to wear when I showered after the sweaty work, and a yard of my own to mow on top of everything. My perspective changed after I realized my selfishness.

There are blessings in so many things we do and even complain about each day. Doing the laundry seems so time consuming at times. The picture above is of an Ethiopian woman, I met last year, doing her laundry by hand. We are so blessed and need to remember to give thanks and to pray for those who struggle and dream to have a sliver of what we complain about.

My prayer today is for those women clipping grass in a far away country today. May God bless them just as much as He has blessed me.

And The Walls Come Down

I recently started going to an acupuncturist for some health issues. As a former “sick kid,” who was stuck with needles too many times to count, I never thought I would find myself in a position willingly having 30+ needles poked into me at any given time. Strange are the situations we find ourselves in during our time here, I guess. The first few times of going, I was hesitant each time the Dr. approached me. Not that the needles hurt too badly, but it was probably more due to the loss of control I felt. The picture above is one where the Dr. is attempting to get the damaged nerves in my knee to work again following a botched knee surgery from my past.

One visit while I was suffering from a cold, my Dr. told me he could give me some relief by placing the needles in some sinus points. He found a knot in the back of my neck, and told me to relax as he put the needle in. He then told me to breathe. Ahhhh…for the first time in days my nose suddenly worked to take in air. It was as if a wall had just been knocked down inside my sinuses. I greatly enjoyed what so many of us take for granted normally, getting air to my lungs by way of taking in air through the nose! It was so nice.

What felt like a wall in my nose/sinuses had been up for a few days. I tried lots of things to take it down. I did the sinus rinse (as I chuckled at how silly I looked putting a plastic tea pot looking thing up my nose.) I used vapor rub, over the counter meds, allergy meds, hot tea, etc. Nothing broke down the wall until that needle went into the knot/muscle/nerve or whatever you call where he put it.

As I held still in a semi dark room with the pins in me, I got to thinking about how the Lord works on our hearts. I think a lot of us have walls around our hearts. Walls that we have tried to break down with cheap and temporary remedies. None really work. The Lord has the ability to touch our hearts and remove those walls. It’s amazing how he can do it. He finds the place where we hurt, and with His gentle touch…the wall comes down. It’s pretty amazing. When the wall comes down, it’s like breathing clearly for the first time in a long time.

Just as I was hesitant at those first few needles going in me, I know some of you are hesitant of letting the Lord near that wall. You are afraid it will hurt and probably afraid you will lose control. Take a deep breath, relax, and realize you are in good hands. Ask Him to remove that wall, and before you know it…you will be amazed at how clearly you are breathing again.

Instant Message From God

I had a dream last night. It started just as I drifted off. I dreamt I was on the computer and suddenly got an instant message from someone on the screen. A greeting came across the screen. I skeptically typed back to respond and said “Is that you, God?” “Yes, it’s Me.” He answered. I suddenly realized that I should start asking Him some questions while I had Him online. Frantically, I started typing. Sometimes He answered me before I even got the question typed.

Me: Is that You, God?
God: Yes, it’s Me.
Me: What are You doing?
God: Watching over you.
Me: God, could You help me with…
God: Of course, I will provide for you.
Me: How did You know what I was going to ask?
God: I just knew. Yes, I will provide for you.
Me: Will you stay close to me?
God: Always

The conversation continued. I asked a few more questions. There have been many nights where I pray in bed asking for wisdom. King Solomon asked for wisdom during a dream conversation with God. He asked for just a sliver of God's wisdom. I have often asked for this while awake. In my dream, did I ask for wisdom on my instant message conversation? Nope. Did I ask Him the questions about things I have lost sleep over in my life? Nope. Instead I asked questions about safety, provision, etc. I didn’t know I was even worried about these things.

I was irritated when I woke up. The questions I asked were so elementary. They were questions that I really already knew the answers to. Why didn’t I ask those questions about things I have struggled finding the answers to over the years. Why didn’t I request for a heart more like His or for that sliver of wisdom. Why did I ask questions that I knew the answers to deep down in my heart? I have no idea. I guess the fog of the dream kept me from thinking clearly.

A dream is a dream. Our mind takes us on these imaginary journeys that have no limit on adventure or reality. Although, we know in the Bible, the Lord did come to many people in their dreams. Maybe my dream has more meaning than being just a story in my mind. Maybe the Lord spoke to me in a way to remind me that He is here for us in the little things in life. Maybe He wanted to remind me of things I didn’t know I needed to hear.

Maybe my dream conversation is as much for me as it is for one of you reading this now. Let this be a reminder to us all. God promises that He will always watch out for us. He promises that He will provide, and He won’t leave us. He will do this…always. From His computer screen…to mine…to yours. Message delivered.

Ecclesiastes

We were challenged this Sunday to read Ecclesiastes and underline the word “meaningless” each time we saw it. I just finished this assignment.

Although I’ve read Ecclesiastes before, the words took a different meaning to me this time. It’s so insightful and really doesn’t take long to read. Maybe I am in a different place in life now than I was when I read it the last time. As I read, I found myself underlining more than just the word “meaningless.” There were several things I highlighted that hit me hard.

“Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influences on us.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3) Boy, is that ever true! Think back to the situations in life that have had the most influence on who you are today. I’m willing to guess that those things that had the biggest impact on you are moments or times of sorrow or sadness…pain or hardships.

“Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this too is meaningless- like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4)
Unfortunately, I think we are all guilty of this at some point in our lives.

I challenge you to read Ecclesiastes too. Have a pencil in hand to underline what stands out to you as you read.

We do spend a lot of our time here chasing after the wind. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a wind chaser. There is greater purpose in life than running after that wind. Run after what the Lord is calling you to do with your life. Strap on those tennis shoes and run for a purpose that can be lived out through you if you go after it. You won’t be running alone. The Lord knows it’s easier to run with a partner. He will go with you. I’ve got my athletic socks on and am about to lace up. Anyone care to join me?

Junk Ridding

As I prepare for a yard sale, I look at all the stuff in the for sale pile that I hope to get rid of. As I look at some items, I think to myself, “What if someone doesn’t take that? Will I be stuck with it forever?” Some of the things I really want to get rid of. If no one buys it, should I donate it or even throw it away?

Getting rid of stuff, junk, or even things we like but no longer have room for, isn’t easy. It’s time consuming. It’s difficult to know if you should sell it and how much to sell it for. It’s a lot of work and sometimes is hard to let go of things, but feels GREAT when it’s gone. At the end you are left feeling refreshed and lighter to have gotten rid of so much stuff you had been carrying around. Oh…the joy of Junk-Ridding.

Getting rid of stuff you don’t need is a good thing. We all have a bag or two that needs to be given up. You know what I mean. I’m not talking about the old faithful Samsonite that has lasted a lifetime and you can’t seem to part with. I mean old baggage inside our hearts that we hang on to that needs to go.

Once in the 7th grade we had a new girl start at school. I went out of my way to be nice to her and felt bad for her because she was new. In return, she thought it would be fun to make up a nasty rumor about me and spread it all over the class. That still strikes an anger nerve in me today. Silly, huh?

In the midst of the glorious Yard Sale season, I have a challenge for you (and for myself). Let go of that old bag you have been carrying around. It’s probably something more than a junior high squabble. If it is a bag that you have been carrying, keeping, hording, or even storing in the attic, give it up, let it go. It’s not doing you any good. Let’s face it, you don’t have room for it, and deep down you don’t want it anymore. Maybe it is junk from your past. Maybe you have treasured bitterness about something for a long time. He stands by ready to take it off your hands for you. If you don’t give it to Him, you will be stuck with it for a lifetime. Let it go and enjoy that light feeling of not carrying it around and the refreshed feeling of Junk-Ridding.