-Philippians 4:12
I was up early again today. It's sometimes good for me not to sleep in because even though I do not always have a set schedule, I can easily find the time to do things around town or around the house. I bought a new yard tool on Sunday that is for pulling weeds and crab grass. I used it in the front yard for nearly an hour yesterday and it works great. There is still much more to do, but I am looking forward to it. I love a work in progress. It's probably how God feels about observing us. I had subconsciously planned to "take the day off" and watch some movies in my theater room. but the sky is very overcast and rain is highly anticipated sometime today, so I re-filled the bird feeder and replenished the hummingbird nectar near the pool. The scripture is true as it states "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26.
I was reminded as to how impoverished I was as a child. I often recall, (especially in the years following my mother's death), how little we had to eat or how little clothing we had to wear. I remember having only two pair of underwear and while I wore one clean pair I had to hand wash the second pair and hang them inside on a door to dry while I was at school. And if I happened to forget to wash them the previous night I had to wash them in the morning and then hang them on a hanger in front of the oven so they would be dry enough to wear to school. Sometimes they would get a little scorched, but what the heck, at least they were clean. I had to do the same with my socks. My siblings and I continued in this process for several years until it was no longer considered a hardship, but instead, the norm. Sometimes I purposely reflect on those barren times and it makes me all the more thankful when I consider where God has brought me from. I will never forget those times.
It's easy to look at someone today who is suffering as I did and want to bring them out of their despair. It is also easy to formulate the opinion that everyone is seeking their pie in the sky, just as I was. Life has shown me that this is far from the truth. Jesus said "The poor you will have with you always but you will not always have me." (Matthew 26:11). He spoke these words in regards to his upcoming death, but that we can continue to show our love for Him by caring for the poor. But there are some who are not poor by life's circumstances, but rather, by choice. There was a time in my life that I was a very bad steward of money. I did not consider the monthly obligations that I had incurred and often I would overindulge in things that I did not need or merely wanted; all the while knowing that I had priorities to satisfy. My bad stewardship led to borrowing from others on a regular basis, getting trapped in the "advanced check cashing" cycle, bank overdrafts and stiff penalties, and the discontinuation of electrical, water, telephone services and even eviction notices. I vowed that something had to change and by God's grace I was able to focus on what type of life the Lord desired me to live.
I sit here alone at my kitchenette table with a cup of coffee, watching the rain now pouring down through the windows. I am a man of few friends, (I used to believe that it was because I was so difficult to get along with, but it is also largely because I don't appreciate my life becoming so dis-organized by others that I begin to feel powerless), and the friends I do have are mostly via email or an occasional telephone call. Don't get me wrong; I love people, I just don't enjoy being around them too much. For me, its easier to accept the idiosyncrasies of others that way. I suppose we all have our own method of dealing with things.
I'm going to go and enjoy the day. I pray that you will be able to do the same.
Take care.
Dennis
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