Shade tree wisdom 4/24/13

Shade tree wisdom 4/24/13




She was probably in her middle forties and had been a widow for nearly two years, Now, on this bright Sunday afternoon, she was busy going to each house in the village and laying a goose feather on each doorstep she visited. Then, when she finished, she returned to the village church and sought the Pastor.

Well, what had happened, that morning at worship the sermon had been based on James chapter 3, 1-12, and the Pastor had dwelt on gossip as a misuse of the tongue for it could cause so much harm This woman, a regular church-goer, suddenly saw that the words fit her. Suddenly, in a flash of insight, she saw herself as the village gossip. So, right after the service, she had confessed her sin to the pastor and asked for forgiveness.

That’s why she was now placing feathers on nearly every doorstep, for the pastor told her that was part of her penance. Finished at last, she returned to church and sought the Pastor to report the task was done, He smiled warmly, and said, “now, there is just one thing left, go and pick them all up again”.

“Why, but the wind has scattered them all over the place. I can’t pick them up again”.

That is why St. James says what he did. The tongue “is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” 3,8. So we please the Lord when we ‘think before we speak’. Proverbs teaches, “Whoever guard his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble.” 21,23.It suggests, “the tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly”. 15,2.

It is a good thing to think, then speak. And never in anger. Remember, God forgives our sins because Jesus paid the price on the cross.

GPD 4/24/13