This year our daughters and their families were at their in-laws, so we headed to Nashville, to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Thanksgiving morning, my sister and I, went for what she said was her short walk. Short was true, it was 45 minutes versus her usual 90 minute walk. She told me that there were going to be a few hills on this short walk,enough to get my heart rate up. The entire 45 minutes was uphill! Okay, it was more like 40 minutes uphill and 5 minutes downhill. I do believe I was on the verge of a heart attack! For a girl who lives in west Tennessee, where it’s basically flat, the walk was brutal. After our short walk, I was convinced that the calories I would be consuming later that day were already burned off!
Today, the day after our once-a-year turkey feast, we headed out for a long walk, determining that the short walk had not been enough. We were attempting to burn away the pounds that were quickly accruing from the food consumed the day before. For me, the food consumed were the homemade yeast rolls, of which I had eaten way too many. Normally I give up the bread in lue of a little dessert. But this year, I just couldn’t resist the hot out-of-the-oven yeast rolls. So, needless to say, the short walk the day before certainly didn’t cover the calories of all the rolls. This walk was going to be the long walk, there would be a few hills, but it wouldn’t all be uphill.
I didn’t do too badly in keeping up with Susan, who conquers the hills around her home 5-6 days a week. We were about three-fourths of the way out when I began to feel a small pebble in my shoe, succinctly planted under my right heel. Determined not to slow down or let up, I kept on- pebble and all! Finally I became so irritated that I asked if we could stop and explained that I had a rock, it really was just a pebble, but felt like a rock, in my shoe. She said she had had that happen numerous times and commented at how irritating such a small thing can be.
The pebble in my tennis shoe was so small that when I sat down and removed my shoe, turning it upside down, I didn’t even see it fall to the ground. But, I knew it was gone because when I placed the tennis hoe back on my foot, I was walking comfortably once again. I could then focus on the task at hand- finishing my walk and making it all the way home.
As I thought back on the irritation I experienced from that small pebble and how something so tiny could cause me to have discomfort and distract me from the task at hand, I wondered about the pebbles in my life. What are the small things that irritate me and draw my attention away from the task at hand? What are the small things that draw my attention away from the Father? What are the pebbles that seem like rocks at times, bringing about distraction and discomfort? Do I admit that I have them and then stop to empty them out of my life in order that I can once again focus?
It’s an amazing thing that when we empty ourselves of the pebbles, the rocks, in our lives, we can once again walk uprightly, free of the distraction. When we ask the Father to show us the pebbles in our lives, He will loving do so. When He does, we must empty our lives of those things thus enabling us be free to serve and worship Him
.
Some of the pebbles that are continually showing up in my life are things like: impatience, frustration with people who mean well, but don’t follow through, over commitment, jealousy, discontentment, Mark’s condition, fear, strained relationships, money (the need for), the future and what it holds, lack of trust – I could go on, but you get the picture of some of the pebbles I am continually emptying out in order that I may walk this life free of distractions, focused on the Father, and making it all the way home.
Father, help me to recognize the pebbles in my own life and to daily empty them from my life, in order to be focused on the task at hand – loving, serving, and worshiping You. Help me to make it home free of these pebbles!
“So get rid of all evil behavior. Bo done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.” 1 Peter 2:1
“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in truth. But, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:8
“And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.” 1 John 2:28-29