Читать книгу Mustard Seeds - Melissa Levi - Страница 27

Emma the Terrible Felled by a Shoe

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Emma the Terrible has so much energy. She wants to play all the time. Last night she stood at the back door barking. She had her ducky with her, a favorite toy good for chewing and fetching. It had rained shortly before and the yard was in no state for duck hunting. However, Emma saw it differently and refused to give up her plea. I snatched the duck from her and returned to the living room where the girls and I interested her in a game of keep away. From couch to loveseat to chair, she ran panting and tail wagging, it was without a doubt good fun for all involved. After a few revolutions we decided we would change up on Emma and reverse the flow. Now love seat to couch to chair. I began the toss and Emma launched from my lap with the zeal we have come to expect from her—up on top of the couch, across the back, down to the arm, and an impressive leap to the chair. Now down my daughter’s leg to the ottoman and to the floor. Gaining some traction from the area rug, she prepared for her leap to my lap on the love seat, but not this time. Off the ottoman she came, and in full run, she headed for me. But just as she was about to grab some air, her hind legs clipped a lone tennis shoe. She flipped and belly flopped on the hardwood and skidded to a stop with the front portion of her body under the love seat. Only her hind legs sprawled and her limp tail was visible. The air was sliced with a collective scream befitting a house full of females as we scrambled to rescue our Emma. We extricated her from the underside of the love seat and beset her with kisses and pets.

Poor Emma. Everything was going so well. She had her people, her duck and a good game going—until the shoe.

I can relate.

Whether an old flame, the opportunity to knock back a cold one, peer pressure, depression, financial woes or well you got the idea, some of the most benign items and situations can be a stumbling block in your walk with Jesus. Often times, we do not notice them until it is too late and we have belly flopped.

Throughout the word, we are warned to be vigilant and reminded that Satan roams about looking for whom he may devour.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8

I think the first line of defense would be to evaluate yourself, your weaknesses your areas of temptation and avoid venues and people that could erode your resolve.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:14

It is unfortunate that we have to at times remove people from our lives. It is a hard and sometimes painful process, but less painful compared to the pain of allowing them to remain.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15:33

Is there a situation, person or venue that is a shoe in your life? Now is the time to remove it.