When I was a little girl sitting on the front pew listening to my dad preach, a lot of his illustrations used in making a point stuck with me for life. One of those little nuggets came up on the front lobe of my little brain a few minutes ago…
My dad wore size 14 shoe. When he was born, he weighed in at 14 pounds and never looked back. He was a massive man, big barrel chest, long, lean legs, hands the “size of hams” and covered in black curly hair, that was before men shaved their chest and back…good thing because as I remember, my mother loved it and called him her “bear”. As big and handsome as he was, he still had self-esteem issues (don’t we all?) and one of those issues was actually about his large, flat feet…which kept him from joining every branch of the service he tried to join as a young man after the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor. But I digress…
One day he saw a sign on a wall of a doctor’s office that changed his thinking, it read, “I complained because I had no shoes until I saw a man that had no feet…”
I admit I don’t actually remember the point he was making, I was only about seven years old when I heard that for the first time, but it popped up this morning as I was comparing some of my life circumstances with other people that I know, surprised I can admit this out loud, but it’s true.
When there are people around me, people that I know up close and personal that have spent time in the hospital on oxygen from difficulties breathing because of this damned virus that has made its way into our country, should I complain because my nose is stuffy and I’m having to use Sinex spray to open it up? Should I worry that my financial security is in jeopardy when there are people all around me that have no place to live, people whose food supply is sparse to non-existent and with winter coming on no warm clothes to pull around them against the night wind?
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
That being said, remember that we stand alone in the time of judgement so we need to try to be the best we can be and don’t obsess about what someone else is doing!
The only thing I want to add is that while comparing what I have or do not have I remember a verse in the book of James which I think I need to insert here for you to think about…
James 1:26-27 Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
A word to the wise should be sufficient…
Harolene.com 