A PEBBLE FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Yes, I meant pebble, not penny. Tina Francis, is July's author for the daily devotional, Forward Movement. Yesterday's reading reminded me how aggravating a pea-sized pebble can be, lodged between your foot and shoe. No matter how you squiggle and contort your foot to remove the pesky pebble, it refuses to budge. Finally, depleted of patience and pain tolerance you cry, "ENOUGH!" Then, you stop, take off your shoe to remove the embedded enemy of both sole and soul.
So, life and Tina remind me of times I've let something small turn into something too large to ignore. I kept hoping it or they would just go away. But, it only got worse. Until, finally, I dealt with the pebble that poked and provoked me. My bent's to avoid, deny or postpone confrontation. I prefer to err on the side of hope. I hope that they or it will just go away. Time heals, right? Or, I pray for God to show up and remove it or them (not by death, just proximity to me!)
Well, who hasn't heard, "Choose your battles. Not everything's worth a war"? However, can you recall ignoring something small that turned into a big problem: physically, mentally, relationally or spiritually? I can. So, I keep reflecting on Tina's words. Maybe, they'll speak to you, as they spoke to me. "The trouble with small stuff, like grudges, bad habits, tiny cruelties--they seem too little to matter until they've worn a hole clean through you."
So, tomorrow's Sunday, a good day to take our feet to Church. To remove the pebble that's come between more than just our soles and shoes. Jesus knows and cares about that which harms us or others. Soles and souls matter, because we matter.
Jesus waits.
The cost?
A pebble.
6 Comments
All souls matter to God- and you reflect that in your writing as it’s obvious they matter to you as well Jan. Grateful for you.
Thanks, my dear Norwegian sister. Yes, we all matter to Jesus. For sure, you matter to me. Jeg elsker deg!
Funny, I grew up with the adage to put a pebble in your shoe so you would remember something. I thought you were going down that way. Never thought of a pebble as being a nuisance., only a reminder. I suppose you can use it both ways. It's fits. a reminder of God being in control and letting Him take the lead.
Wow! I'm thankful I didn't grow up with that adage. I preferred to tie a string around my finger. Now, I write it down to remember, then pray I recall where I left the piece of paper!! Always good to hear from you, dear Shelly. As for thinking you knew where I was going, good luck! I'm usually praying, then hacking through weeds of words and ideas to cut a path , then hoping it's worth following..
Thank you Jan - such good reminders!! <3
We all need reminders, drear Wendy. Thank you, as always, for taking the time to read and respond. Hope you and Steve are doing well.