Last week’s chicken blog taught me an important lesson. Yes, I’ve been a hypocrite, but I’ve also been vain. All too often, I’ve puffed up my feathers in a desperate attempt to be top bird on the highest perch of all. And now I’m starting to feel ashamed of myself, because I can see that I’ve sometimes been my own worst enemy. Yes, it’s finally happened. Yours truly is eating some humble pie for breakfast. And a part of me feels like hiding away inside one of the kitchen draws….
But not for long! No, I wouldn’t be a true parrot if I remained subdued. Like everyone, I’ve made mistakes and I’ve got things wrong, and all too often, I’ve been self-centred. But it’s not God who’s condemning me; it’s myself. And that always means that I have the chance to turn things around, to move on, and to live a better life in the future. We all need to listen to our inner conscience and the humility that comes with it. Because without humility, we will never take our faults and failings seriously. And without humility, we’ll never be able to recognise the outstretched arm of Jesus, held out especially for us! No, these times of reckoning and taking stock are an important part of our journey through life. We all have the potential to become something so much better, but only if we listen to that little voice inside. And if we choose to ignore it, we simply condemn ourselves to darkness and despair, even though we might not realise it at the time.
So who knows, maybe it’s God’s plan to flood the world with chicken missionaries. And if chickens make a better job of it than parrots, then so be it. Because ultimately, all that really matters is my relationship with my conscience, and my relationship with God.
“Face the giants in your life, slay them and move on. Do not be daunted by the mistakes and failures in your life.”
(T.D. Jakes: [1957-present]: American evangelist)
“The greatest enemy we can face is ourselves, and the greatest battle is against the darkness within.”
(Derek Landy: [1974-present]: Irish author and playwright)
“If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility.”
(St. Augustine: [354-430]: Theologian and philosopher of Berber origin who became Bishop of Hippo in Roman North Africa)
“Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine, so that through you, others can see Him.”
“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.”
(Dwight Moody: [1837-1899]: American evangelist)
“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
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