27 October 2024

The Surprise Inside
The flower gardener expected the daisy seeds to grow, but instead she discovered a tomato plant. Tiny tomatoes eventually appeared; by fall they were still small. Someone suggested picking them and placing them in a paper bag to ripen. She did so, even though her mother wondered why, since the tomatoes remained teensy-weensy and green.

Time turned a couple of the tomatoes red; the gardener ate one of them. Her mother marveled at the happening. It had never occurred to her that those tomatoes were meant to be petite: They were a type of tomato known as cherry.

Some observe us growing up, expecting a particular outcome; sometimes the outcome is a surprise no one ever considered. But God knew all along. Some look down and frown at the tiny green orbs that dangle in the frosty fall air; others pick them and pack them, pleased with the surprise inside.

20 October 2024

The Sin Within
Nobody volunteered to clean up the needy kitchen cabinet, so the problem persisted. A jug of water had leaked; the family knew this. But soon one of them discovered that another jug had leaked, forming a puddle at the bottom of the cabinet. But despite a moldy mess, still nobody offered to clean it up. The worsening situation began to bother Mother; she assigned the project to somebody and saw to it that the cabinet was sufficiently cleaned.

Hidden sin tends to grow,
But the light of God’s Word will show
What needs to go.

13 October 2024

The Story of Two Suns
One morning I passed the kitchen’s east window and saw the sun; out a west window I saw another sun. Puzzled, I did a double take of this second sun. Later I described what I had seen. Someone said that I must have been dreaming; another stated that the two suns must have been the same one; somebody else correctly concluded that the true sun at the east window must have been reflected on the one across from it.

Though mere man can never match God’s perfect light, its reflection should cause people to pause, to praise the Source, to marvel at the difference God’s light makes in a life.

09 October 2024

More Cookie than Creme
Have you ever heard of an Oreo rug? I had not until I saw the advertisement. I supposed that such a rug must be a swirly black-and-white concoction. But upon rereading the phrase, I realized that it had actually been an ad for area rugs.

Later that day I heard someone say this regarding Oreos: “They should sell the creme without the cookie.”

Providence tends to dole out more cookie than creme; could the Christian’s life be all that God intends without His carefully measured blend of both? Maybe most of us would choose only the creme to our spiritual detriment. But thankfully, our wise heavenly Father knows exactly how to divvy out the perfect amount of hard parts and sweet.

04 October 2024

The Cat That Held a Grudge
His people provided food and fresh water, plus the little girl gave him stroller rides down the hallway of the house. But one day something happened that changed everything. The people placed him in a confining contraption and tried to transport him to their new abode. No! He refused to reside with humans who would dare do such an unthinkable thing. As soon as he could, that cat ran away as fast as his furry little legs would carry him.

Sadly, that cat never returned. The family could no longer give him food, fresh water, and fun rides in a little pink stroller. That cat clung to his grudge instead of seeing the situation from the people’s perspective. Oh, how much happier that cat could have been if he had only opted to forgive!