ARGUING – DEVOTIONAL
Howdy Friends! The long lane was always a welcome. Giant oaks on either side fenced in the lane, giving it a feeling of security. Horses and cattle behind the board fence gave a peaceful life to the rolling pastures.
I hadn’t planed on visiting Grandpop until next week. But things piling up just cued up the drive. It had been a rough stretch for the past while, so I took off work Friday, gathered the kids and wife and we headed out.
My wife and daughter steered toward the house, our son and I set out on Grandpop search. Always an adventure of its own. We’d only gone a few yards past the barn when a roaring chainsaw gave us a heading.
Grandpop saw us coming. “I knew I was pushin’ the limit of stallin’. I should’ve cut this ol’ dead oak down years ago. Before it took a mind to fall on thirty feet of fence.”
I couldn’t help but take my shot. “Procrastination always creates a bigger problem, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, smart alack. I seem ta remember preachin’ that to ya a time or five.” Grandpop sat on the massive log. “Happy ta see you remembered it.” Then he added, “Of course if I’d procrastinated enough, this coulda been all yours and your brother’s mess ta deal with.”
“Speaking of brother, why isn’t he helping?”
“He’s hauling cows to summer pasture. Thought I’d surprise him when he got back with a good start on this mess.” Grandpop pulled off his gloves. “What drove you out of the city this fine day?”
“Just felt like a visit.”
“Uh Huh.” Grandpop chuckled.
“Works a little tough right now. Planning a big expansion.” I said.
“That’s rough?” Grandpop asked and went back to focusing on showing the boy how to sharpen a chainsaw blade. “I thought your outfit was lookin’ into that for years already.”
I had to laugh. “That’s the rough part, Pop. Everybody in management has their own ideas on the hows, whys and whens of it. A lot of it’s emotion about the change of company atmosphere. And then they toss in this problem and that problem, most of which is way out there, and makes no sense… Feels like all we do is argue. And like you said, nothing moves forward. Some days I don’t even want to show up.”
“Argue, huh?” Grandpop said.
“Oh boy, and then some.”
“Well I learned a long time ago most folks don’t argue to find the truth. They argue to establish dominance.” He gave a little chuckle, “It ain’t wisdom their sharin’. It’s the opposite.”
~ Gitty Up, Dutch.
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Bible Verse – Ecclesiastes 7:8 -“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”
Bible Verse – 2 Timothy 2:23 – “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 26:5 – “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 18:2 – “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 10:14 – “Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.”
Bible Verse – Proverbs 4:7 -“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Bible Verse – Philippians 2:4 -“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Bible Verse – 1 Peter 2:12 – “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
