Yesterday I was walking barefoot outside, hanging laundry, and I felt a pain in my heel. I assumed I had just stepped on a pebble. A few seconds later I looked down to see blood and something protruding from my heel! It looked like a....well I don't know what it was but it was very pointy and sharp. A cross between a thorn and a shard of metal. I pulled it out and continued to hang my laundry on the line.
Now, I am no stranger to pain. I have fallen off horses, been hit in the head by 90 mile an hour baseballs, have given birth, you name it. I've always been able to walk it off and continue with my day. But can I tell you, this tiny, tiny little incident has messed my whole day up! Because it's in the bottom of my heel, it affects every. single. step. I. take! The bottom of my foot is swollen and sore. It kept me from going out on a hike or going for a walk. It made me change how I stand so that I can keep weight off of it. Two days later it's worse because I have stayed busy and kept walking on it.
I thought back to an Aesop's fable. There was a lion who had a thorn in his paw..and he could not get it out..he needed someone to help him. My next thought was that this hunting lion with a thorn in its paw will starve his entire family, because something as small as a thorn is keeping him from reaching his full potential.
Then I had to ask myself, do I have any thorns in my heart or spiritually? Is something keeping me from reaching my potential and feeding my family? I don't want to be a lion with a thorn in my paw, starving my family!
It is amazing the affect that the smallest things can have on us. The smallest things can undermine everything. Which is why God calls us to be so diligent in guarding our hearts. In Song of Solomon 2:15, it says:
"Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes."
This is referencing the fact that while a fox is small, it can destroy entire vineyards given enough time. Robbing the vineyard of its fruit. ( I think fruits of the spirit here, Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.) Foxes keep us from producing these fruits, The same way a thorn in your paw will keep you from being productive.
Spiritually speaking, we live in a society today that is absolutely filled with foxes, these thorns that can get in our paws everywhere we go. They are all over the Internet, TV, radio, people that we meet, and just regular every day behavior. ( I'm not throwing rocks at anyone, but to give some examples: pornography on the Internet, Game of Thrones or other vulgar shows on TV, radio shows that speak unkind words about people, purposely hanging out with people that are not furthering our walk with God, and today's society making things like one night stands, provocative outfits, and lewd behavior [looking at you Mardi Gras] normal.)
We must remain diligent to protect ourselves from these foxes. Let us not forget, that one fox knows many. So you might think, "oh, it's just this one little habit that I have," but no it's not little. That fox has a lot of little fox friends. You let one in, the rest will try to follow, completely destroying your vineyards. You let a thorn stay in your paw long enough, you are going to starve because you can't hunt.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life
We also must be that friend that can remove thorns from our friends paws. Don't be afraid to speak up, but when you do so, speak kindly and without judgment. Speak from a place of love and understanding, a place without condemnation. Letting them know that you also have thorns. And ask to stay diligent together, because it's far easier to stay strong with a friend then alone.
Whether you have a thorn in your paw or a fox in your vineyard, it is an issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. I encourage you to come along side other believers to help guard yourself, or free yourself from these things.
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Kind of a dual example today, I was wondering if I should make one chapter strictly about foxes and another strictly about thorns in paws, but it went so nicely together, at least in my head!
I hope it flows easy enough where you can understand it. Sometimes I have struggles getting what's in my head, and what I understand in my heart, put into words. Wattpad has been a good exercise, really forcing me to put things into words.
Hopefully if I practice enough here I will be able to do it in every day life to the people I meet!
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Volume 2
Duchowe*completed* Here we go with round 2...me writing down my personal revelations and "aha!" moments to help encourage and hopefully help or uplift you. All comments, questions, prayer requests, topic suggestions, and constructive criticism are welcome!
