Have you ever read the story from the Doctor Seuss about the little bug who sneezed? Because of that sneeze a little seed dropped. Because that seed dropped a worm got bopped. Because he got bopped, that worm got mad. Because he got mad he kicked a tree. Because of that kick a coconut dropped. Because that nut dropped a hen got bopped… you see where this is going. One innocuous sneeze results in ultimate chaos. We had a moment like that on our farm a few weeks ago. Here’s what happened.
Because a gate was left open, our two stud colts got out, because I was away with their buddies, Monster and Buzz at a horse show, they were lonely and went looking for friends. Because Isaac saw them out he put them away – with the girls… because Dave saw the stud colts were in with the girls he ran out, in his tuxdeo (he had a dinner that night) and opened the gate to the paddock to bring them in. Because he opened the gate they all ran in, right into the paddock where Baby Ben was! And chaos was the result; yearling colts and our fillies running around, our mini Stevie putting himself between the boys and Baby Ben (love that pony). Ultimately our situation resolved much like the Dr. Seuss book, with everyone safe and back where they belonged and with calm being restored. But how much like our own lives are these stories? The only difference being that we don’t always get to see the chaos or the good that results from our actions.
It is so, so easy to forget how much our feelings and actions impact those around us. Joy, anger, frustration, our emotions aren’t contained to the bubble of our existence, they radiate out from us like energy, affecting those around us for good or bad. And how much is our faith like that? You never know how your verbal “thank you, Jesus” moment or your “have a blessed day” is going to ripple out and change someone’s chaos into order. I am not of the opinion that I need to go around “converting” people. The Bible is pretty clear about the fact that only God can change a person’s heart. But I can be kindness and love. I can show people what it looks like to live a life loved by God, loving God. I can pray for those I love to know the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding that can only come from God. I can be a sneeze and let God take care of the rest.
God bless,
Meredith
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