By Patrick Hawthorne
Not too long ago, I was walking across the yard with slop bucket in hand. With four pigs, three goats, fourteen chickens, and one duck waiting for their evening dinner, my attention should have been focused on feeding them before they went into hunger induced frenzy. Yet, my mind was elsewhere, thinking on things it had no business thinking on.
As a side note, before getting back to the story…Have you ever had an imaginary argument with a person who had no idea that you were even thinking about them? I call it, “Preparatory Arguments.” These are the arguments where you defend your honor over an event that is imagined. “Well, if he or she says this, then I will say this…”
Getting back to my story, I was in the middle of such an argument. In my mind I was really given it to so-and-so. I was chewing them up one side and down the other. Yep, within the inner confines of my cerebral cortex, I had gone to church on this individual. I was fighting the good fight…then came the Holy Spirit pop upside the head.
“What are you doing?”
“Who, Me?”
“Yes, you!”
“Well…ummm…Lord, I was having an argument in my head.”
“Well cut it out!”
“Yes, sir.”
People say they never hear the Lord speak to them. Well, it could be that they are not listening. I hear the Lord very clearly especially when I’m doing something I ought not to be doing. And, usually the conversation goes similar to what I wrote above. Most times it is the result of letting a thought creep into my head and fester.
A minister once said, “You can’t stop the thoughts from coming but you can limit how long they stay. Thoughts are like birds. If you let them remain long enough they will build a nest on your head.” That is exactly what I was allowing that thought to do; it was building a nest.
I have been praying for the Lord to help me to be holy in my conduct as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15). He was simply answering my prayer by putting a halt to a stupid act that was threatening to lead me down the wrong path. Be blessed.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6 NKJV)
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And my caps don’t fit nearly as good either with those nests in place either brother! Great word. Happy New Year to you and Kat.
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Lol…yep, and when you have a bald head like me, those nest can really do some damage to the dome.
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I have had many of those preparatory ‘discussions’ and many nests too. Thank God for His mercy!. Here’s to a nest-free new year 🙂
Blessings to you and yours my friend.
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Lol…I’m glad I’m not the only one. Amen on the nest free year
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They don’t only make nests, they poop inside, and then it starts to stink.
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Lol…Have you been copying my notes?
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😉 Possibly.
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This is awesome! I will always remember these analogies when negative thoughts begin to creep! Such a good post!
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Thank you much…Have a blessed day.
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I think it is 🙂
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Wonderful analogy, Patrick and so true. Those danged black-birds, anyway!;-)
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In the words of Troy from Swamp People…”Choot em.”
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Is this from t.v.? I only, have net-flix…I’m culturally clueless here! lol! I do understand Choot ’em! In NM though, it’s Choooot dem! with a Spanish accent or we could do Navajo, Chut dem ober der…and us gringitoes say Kill em all deader ‘n a door nail! The only good black bird is a black bird that’s dead! Heh, heh, heh….see what happens when you’ve no television to occupy the mind? Keep your hand on your six-gun, Pattrick and have a wonderful New Year!:0)
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lol…Swamp people is a reality show bout dem south Louisiana gator hunters. Theys mainly cajuns. You ain’t never had no vittles till you eat a gator stuffed chicken. Now dat’s some really fine eating right there.
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Ha Patrick good quote about the birds and so very true.
FYI, we now have about as many Cajuns in South Arkansas you you do down there LOL. Good thing, too because now Gumbo is a staple of my diet.
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Yeah…gumbo, etoufe, boudain. Yummmm
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eh..not so much the boudain. But the rest..yum!
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God is gracious and convicts and speaks to us.
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