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It was not doctrinaire sermons that attracted me to Jesus. I don't see or hear him in such hot air. It was not fear of punishment. I was simply drawn to his powerful thoughts on how we can improve our lives. He taught me how to live. He talked like a poet and led people around all the land mines of this life. He did it so simply it never fails to fill me with awe. Like "Consider the lilies. They toil not, neither do they spin. Yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these." I like that part about "toil not." We make such an ordeal of life. When I look back over my life I see times of striving and toil and with the advantages of perspective on the past, I know much of the "toil and strife" came from my own attitude. I wasn't thinking like a lily. Lilies just breath in what they need or slurp it up from the depths of the soil. They know why they are here. They are here to look pretty. If God created so many species with no purpose but to be pretty, then it must surely be allright for us to smile and wear nice clothes and look good. Doesn't it encourage you to know God created so many things for one purpose -- for one reason that might appear so vain? Just to look good. If you have accomplished only one thing in your life, maybe that was your purpose. You need to know that no matter how you think you look, you can look good just by smiling. There is no such thing as an ugly smiling person. Jesus doesn't tell us, "Listen, this is what this means and that is all it means so you had better listen up." No, he simply says "consider this." He wants us to think on His words. He wants us to ponder them and spin out the lessons for ourselves. One other lesson my mind spins out on this lily story is that lilies don't compare blossoms. Our happiness would take off like a jet if we could just quit comparing ourselves to others. You are as worthy and as important as anyone who has ever lived, no more and no less. All of God's creations are equally important. Every child of God is as beautiful and valuable as any other. Like the lilies, just stand where you are planted, swing and sway with the soft breezes of life, soak up the sunshine, let your roots go down to good food every day, and smile. You will never see a lily with a frown! ~~~~~ Dalton's website is
www.daltonroberts.com and his writings are gathered at
www.ipsfeatures.com. |
