October 3rd, 2022
Today’s devotion comes to us from Leigh McLeroy.
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You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. (Psalm 56:8, The Message)
You think serious, high level negotiations can't happen in your own backyard on a Tuesday afternoon? Think again.
On this particular Tuesday, the five year old son of my west side neighbor called out to me from their 8-foot high side porch, which overlooks my fence. He'd been greeting my dogs on an outside run (as he often does) but wanted me to know that his toy plane had likely flown into my yard.
Had I seen it, he wanted to know? I told him I hadn't. Was I sure it wasn't there, though? Well I couldn't be sure, because I hadn't really searched for it, had I? I had my bag on my shoulder and my laptop case under my arm, trying to loop the dogs in so I could leave for a meeting. But none of that was obvious to him. What was obvious was that the lady next door had been alerted to his dilemma and was in a position to do something about it.
So, while he suggested places I might check (the tall Canna lillies next to the fence, or the vine-covered overgrowth behind the garage, maybe?) I dutifully searched. No plane. He appeared to be thinking of still more places for me to look, but I was running late.
"Tell you what," I suggested. "When I get home later I'll bring the boys out and we'll look again, okay?" He agreed, and explained again why he was sure it had to be there. And for the record, I'm still looking.
Why? Because he's my neighbor. Because he asked. Because he believes I'm in a position to help him. And in my backyard, I am. It didn't occur to him even once that what he was asking might be a bother to me, or that I didn't have all the time in the world for a guided search. He'd lost his plane, and was pretty sure he knew where it went down.
Do you ever imagine that God is uninterested in what interests you? That he weights your concerns on some relative scale with world peace on the heavy end and your stuff on the other? That your smallish heartaches aren't enough to merit his attention? Oh friend, think again!
He has loved you with an everlasting love. He has promised to never leave or forsake you. He is as tender with you as a mother with her needy child. He has called himself a good shepherd who cares for his sheep, and he alone is in a position to save and secure you, should you ask.
Is there any reason why you wouldn't?
- Leigh McLeroy
_________________________
You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. (Psalm 56:8, The Message)
You think serious, high level negotiations can't happen in your own backyard on a Tuesday afternoon? Think again.
On this particular Tuesday, the five year old son of my west side neighbor called out to me from their 8-foot high side porch, which overlooks my fence. He'd been greeting my dogs on an outside run (as he often does) but wanted me to know that his toy plane had likely flown into my yard.
Had I seen it, he wanted to know? I told him I hadn't. Was I sure it wasn't there, though? Well I couldn't be sure, because I hadn't really searched for it, had I? I had my bag on my shoulder and my laptop case under my arm, trying to loop the dogs in so I could leave for a meeting. But none of that was obvious to him. What was obvious was that the lady next door had been alerted to his dilemma and was in a position to do something about it.
So, while he suggested places I might check (the tall Canna lillies next to the fence, or the vine-covered overgrowth behind the garage, maybe?) I dutifully searched. No plane. He appeared to be thinking of still more places for me to look, but I was running late.
"Tell you what," I suggested. "When I get home later I'll bring the boys out and we'll look again, okay?" He agreed, and explained again why he was sure it had to be there. And for the record, I'm still looking.
Why? Because he's my neighbor. Because he asked. Because he believes I'm in a position to help him. And in my backyard, I am. It didn't occur to him even once that what he was asking might be a bother to me, or that I didn't have all the time in the world for a guided search. He'd lost his plane, and was pretty sure he knew where it went down.
Do you ever imagine that God is uninterested in what interests you? That he weights your concerns on some relative scale with world peace on the heavy end and your stuff on the other? That your smallish heartaches aren't enough to merit his attention? Oh friend, think again!
He has loved you with an everlasting love. He has promised to never leave or forsake you. He is as tender with you as a mother with her needy child. He has called himself a good shepherd who cares for his sheep, and he alone is in a position to save and secure you, should you ask.
Is there any reason why you wouldn't?
- Leigh McLeroy
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