aking up. I was rushing. I normally take...(many) showers a day--some only a minute or two long, just to freshen up or cool down. But my shower was backing up and my theory is that the water was coming from where it should be going...(yuck.) Taking my stuff to the other shower takes too long, so a shower was out.I sat down to have some breakfast and my devotions while the boys were busy with the video teachers. When I heard the dogs going crazy, I had a good idea what was going on, but it was raining and I couldn't see Orus. So, I sat back down.
Then the neighbor kids started yelling and insisting I come out. They know what
happens every time their chickens get in our yard. The landlord's rottweiler goes crazy chasing and playing with it until it's dead. It doesn't seem to bother them too much when it's just a chicken, but when it's a fighting rooster it's a big deal. This was a rooster. They insisted I make MY dog stop. I must go out in the rain and get the bird back!It is NOT my dog--they know that quite well, since this has been going on much longer than we have lived here. The last thing I want to do is deal with this, but I'm the missionary, and we're supposed to be nice.
Given a choice between a bird or a person calling for his attention, Orus chose ME. He was already
excited... his huge muddy paws landed on my shoulders, the others dancing on my feet. OH, he STINKS! (Bathing him is out of the question. He's bigger and stronger than me and he doesn't like water--unless there's a chicken running around in it.)Well, we got him away, but the bird was already dead. I was a stinky, muddy mess, and the kids had gone in their house and WOULDN'T come out when I called for THEM. Hadn't they commanded ME to come out? Why had I done this? Oh, that's right I was ACTING nice. (Not feeling nice, inside or out right now.) Larry said not to let it bother me. It's a funny story. (No kidding..from his perspective! He did not get Orused.) He said, "Just go take a shower and forget about it."
A shower! I didn't have time for that before, and now I'm even more behind! Now I was even more upset. Something in my head was trying to tell me that this is what I had wanted from the beginning, but had forgone out of responsibility. Now I was forced into it, but I was grumbling about it.
Then it hit me. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Before I even opened my eyes that morning, I'd begged the Lor
d to mold me to His will in my deeds and words. Well, I'd done the deed--maybe not whole heartedly, but at least for the Lord's sake. And He had given me what I wanted. I had a legitimate excuse. It was not a luxury, not slacking. I had a free ticket for a shower!I stopped to consider the elaborate plan God came up with to get me dirty. (I do not get dirty naturally.) What a crazy and creative God, to come up with an excuse like that to get me what I want when I'm stressing! How can I grumble about that?!!
So I looked up Ps. 37. Here's some gems no matter what your day's like.
"Fret not thyself...(3x)
Trust in the Lord AND do good...
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart...
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him...and he shall bring forth THY righteousness...
They shall NOT be ashamed in the evil time..."
The lengths God goes to to please us is really mind boggling. Make a note of what He's doing for you and Thank Him!
God Bless you all & Have a wonderful Christmas Season!
Kris
