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Getting Cut Down A Notch
Devotional for Friday, June 18, 1999 by Mary Daniel
Jeremiah 9:23,24 - Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (KJV)People who move from "wide open spaces", such as the prairies, to abundantly-treed surroundings tend to be one of two types: they either want to cut down all the trees so they can see, or they can't bear to cut down a tree because they are so precious.
I am one of the latter. It took me a while to figure why my home, usually very sunny, seemed to be a little darker and cooler this year. Then I realized it was the large cypress tree between our home and the neighbours. It had really flourished in the last couple of years and was now blocking the sunlight.
"Cut it down!" some said, but besides not liking to cut down a living tree, what would my little birds do? They loved to flit back and forth from the branches on the tree to my feeders.
I decided on cutting it down a notch. I had it "topped" and had all the surrounding branches lopped, and also had the clutter of dead branches in the middle cleared out. The birds seemed to love it. The minute the job was complete, several birds sat on the stubs at the very top of the newly trimmed tree and sang their hearts out. Now they could dash in and out amongst the branches; everything was easier, the way was clearer, more accessible.
Sometimes our lives get like the tree. We keep going and going, adding more and more to our daily lives until our way is not so clear or accessible. Those around us who love us still move about in our life, but other things may be cluttering the way. We may flit to God and back rather than keeping the way to Him clear. We may get a little "full" of ourselves. Perhaps before someone does it for us, we should "come down a notch".
Prayer: We ask that you help us to recognize when our lives are getting too busy. May we take time each day to remember that all things come through you: all wisdom, all kindness, all love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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