Posts Tagged: saying that the hairs of our heads are numbered by God
“Cherishing and Cherished”
“Cherish is the word that I use to describe
All the feelings that I have . . .” (“Cherish” The musical group, The Association)
“God knows how many hairs you have on your head.” (Jesus of Nazareth)
“I cherish my wife, but I don’t know how many hairs she has on her head.” (Me)
I let my wife talk me out of getting a bunch of strawberry plants. I am so glad that she succeeded! I would have gotten twenty-five (or even fifty), which would not have been good. I’m seventy years old, have bone spurs and various other problems. I have no business acting like I am fifteen years old. I bought 1,000 strawberry plants the year I turned fifteen or sixteen. It was for a Future Farmers of America crop project. Seventy is a long way from fifteen.
So, I bought ten plugs with three strawberry plants in each plug. Much smarter! They are everbearing, and already have some berries ripening.
I went out yesterday to see how they were doing. I asked them, and they said, “Oh, we’re just fine! Thank you for giving us a home.”
However, I knew that the rains were coming, so I gave the plants some TLC by placing grass clippings around the plants and especially under the berries. This will (hopefully) keep the berries from getting too muddy. When they get muddy, they tend to rot before they ripen.
As I was carefully lifting the berries and gently placing the clippings under them, I was cherishing the plants and the berries. It occurred to me that, if I had a lot of plants, there was no way that I could cherish them and take such good care of them. There is a saying, “Go big, or go home!” That is probably a good saying for many things. Along the same line is the expression “the economy of scale.” However, there is a lot to be said for the economy of small scale as well.
One of the benefits of the economy of small scale is that, when I go small, I can cherish things more. Staying small helps me to cherish small things in a big way. A friend of mine reminded me that doing small things out of the love of God is the best way to live a life that is worth living. Yes!
Only God is big enough to cherish everything that is. I will confine myself to loving those around me. That would include my wife, our little dog, the goldfinches that visit my bird feeders, and my strawberry plants. It also includes you, dear reader. I hope that you not only feel cherished by reading this little meditation. I hope that you also are moved to cherish other things, including your job, your spouse, and your friends just a bit more.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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