Two Tuesday Ruffled Feathers Food-for-Thoughts

Bet you can't say that title real fast 3 times in a row.

(I know I couldn't).

Two Tuesday thoughts for you... things that have ruffled my feathers


1. Trash Day. I was so glad to be off yesterday. The problem with that is that my trash pick-up day is on Tuesdays.  Since this is my first day back to work after a long weekend, I thought today was Monday. Imagine my surprise when I was leaving for work and I heard the familiar whine of a garbage truck. I thought I would just skip a week, but I waved at them and they waited for me to pull my trash to the curb.

I don't generate much trash. I can get away with taking my trash to the curb every two weeks.

I have pulled my trash up to the curb and it wasn't picked up. That ruffled my feathers.

This has happened twice...

...in the 11.5 years I have resided in my home.

Therefore, I classify this, my forgetting to pull my trash to the curb on trash day or the garbage men forgetting my trash as...

High class problems.

These are problems that are not worth getting in a huff over. There are people out here who don't have jobs and don't know where there next meal is coming from. There are people who are homeless and living under a bridge.

2. Time to Pray. I have probably mentioned this before, but I bristle a bit when people ask me to pray for them. Why? Because it feels all rushed. And my question is always...

Haven't you been praying for yourself?

I don't say that out loud, but the question blows through my mind like a strong gust of wind. And I would never say that to them. But I look at a person's life and I think... gee, your life looks perfect. All this great stuff going on and this temporary thing is getting you down? Do you see all the great things that God is doing in your life? Does it even matter to you?

And I have to check myself because I am being judgmental, if only for a moment. I go on and pray for folks. But you know what the answer to these prayers have been as of late?

There's a LOT going on with people that you just don't know about.

A LOT.

Folks don't tell it all. I don't ask questions.  The italicized statement alone says much. Sometimes you just gotta keep things to yourself.

Let's face it. We only tell half the story. I know this to be true because I do when I am going through something dire or heart-wrenching. Nothing wrong with that. This is why you should be praying for yourself. You are the establishing witness.. Everybody's prayers are added to yours, so your prayer better be biblical and in the right direction.

I don't know if that makes sense. But it has changed my prayer life for people... and for myself.

Some of us don't know the root of some of our issues. I don't know the root of some of mine. And that changes things. I spend a WHOLE lot of time with that, just trying to understand the "why" behind what is going on.

My feathers don't get all ruffled now. I eagerly pray for a good outcome. And I pray from a positive attitude.

Those are my 2 Tuesday Thoughts.

My feathers are smoothing down. And it must mean that I am maturing. And that's a great thing.