One day my husband fixed a
leak behind the commode in my bathroom. Being the handyman he is, he
cut a small hole in the floor to reach the pipes. Fine, no problem,
leak fixed so now he will repair the hole and life goes on. Right?
Wrong! He decided to leave the hole for a few days t make sure the
leak is really fixed. Now that few days has turned into months.
Although it is a small hole, I have tried my best to conceal it but
there is just so much I can do to make a hole in floor more
attractive .Now fast forward about six months. The hole is still
there even though I have done all I can to conceal/decorate it. A
hole is a hole and it is still there.
One night I stumble into bed
after an exhausting day of transporting kids to different activities
in addition to the daily circus of running a household with four
kids. Around 2:00 in the morning my little dog woke me up with
frantic barking and yelping. I forced one eye open to see him jumping
up and down on the floor by my bed. He looked at me as if to say,
“I'm trying to protect you, now come on and do your part.” When I
did manage to stumble into the bathroom, I was instantly awake. There
between the commode and the wast can was a possum! Pugsley, my dog,
had him trapped. I could not move because I was in shock. Pugsley
barked again as if to say, “See, I told you. Now get rid of it. I'm
tired and want to go to sleep” frantically, I woke up my husband
and screamed, “THERE'S A POSSUM IN THE BATHROOM! GET UP AND KILL
IT” He looked at me as though I had completely lost my mind. “OK,
just get me something to use to kill it.” He calmly said. I ran to
my grandson's room and came back with a ball bat. I gave the bat to
hubby and jumped on the bed and covered my eyes. I could hear the
battle raging on in the bathroom. “HISS!” “POW!” “KA-POW!”
“BOOM!” Finally all was silent so I opened my eyes. There on the
floor lay the lifeless body of the intruder. I picked it up carefully
by the tail and placed it into a plastic bag and ran to throw it into
the outside garbage can. I was finally able to fall to sleep but the
bathroom light was left on for the rest of the night.
I bet you thought this was
the end of my story. WRONG! I pulled into the driveway the next
morning after running errands and three kids met me at the car. All
three were talking at once. I was finally able to understand their
excitement when Christian told me, “Nanny, there is a possum in our
garbage can.” “and he is alive,” Alyssa interrupted to
excitedly tell me. “Yeah, he is ALIVE! Nikolas finished with
excitement written all over his face. I went over to the garbage can
to see for myself. Sure enough, when I raised the lid of the can, I
could see two beady little eyes staring up at me. I slammed the lid
down and get the kids into the house after explaining to them to stay
away from the garbage can and leave the creature alone. I don't know
what happened to our uninvited guest. The kids think he escaped and
is now living happily-albeit traumatized-with his family. I hope that
is what happened, but at least, is not living in my house with my
family.
When I was finally able to
sit down for my visit with God, I asked Him, as I always do, “What
do you want to talk about today, Father?” His answer came as a
total surprise to me. “I want to talk about the possum.” “What
about the possum?” I asked in astonishment. “That was a small
hole in your floor, wasn't it?” “Y e a h,” I slowly answered.
“Just like that possum squeezing through such a small unguarded
hole in the floor, the enemy can enter your heart through a small
unguarded hole in your heart. Just as that intruding animal filled
you with dread and fear, the enemy can fill your heart with fears and
worries. When he does that you do not fully trust me to care for
you.” Suddenly I understood what He was telling me. We must always
guard our hearts against the enemy that roams around seeking who he
devour. Satan doesn't need a door with a flashing neon welcome sign,
he enters through a hole he finds unguarded. Don't make it easy for
him to enter your heart. Fill your heart with joy and love and trust
in your Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally and will never
leave you unprotected.
By the way, the hole in my
floor has been fixed. I have not had another possum to enter my house
but I have to admit, I have let fears and doubts enter my heart. I
then have to remember that I have a Father who loves me
unconditionally and with His help I can dispel these fears and doubts
before they take up residence in my heart.
Today's Whisper:
Have you ever left your
heart unguarded and the enemy was able to squeeze through and fill
your heart with fear and doubt. Journal about the doubts and fears
you let enter and write out a prayer confessing them and ask God to
come into your heart. Just as the enemy can enter our heart, God can
close that hole with His peace and joy.
Today's Prayer:
Loving Father, help me to be
ever vigilant to guard my heart against the enemy's attacks only you
can fill my heart with the peace and joy I crave. Make me ever
mindful of your love and care for me. I surrender my heart and soul
to you. I know you will never me or forsake me. I covet your presence
in my life today and forever. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment