See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1
So long trash. Some years ago, my friend David introduced me to the Gmail calendar. It was a game changer and life saver. Back in the day most pastors carried a little pocket calendar wherever they went. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t my thing. And, invariably, someone would tell me something and I would not have a calendar, nor a piece of paper nor a pen or pencil. I would really try to remember all this important stuff but well it just didn’t work.
Well, one day my friend David told me about the Gmail calendar. I already had a smartphone, but I just hadn’t been introduced to the Gmail calendar app. Then, one day, we met, and it was love at first sight. With the Gmail calendar I can instantly add things to my calendar. Joe is having surgery. Check. Personnel meeting Tuesday at 6pm. Check. Don’t forget Judy’s birthday. Double check. On and on the list goes and while the system isn’t perfect…it works so much better. All that important stuff has a much better chance of not being forgotten. Thank you, Gmail and David.
Another cool feature of this calendar is that you can set a reminder for something every day, week, or month. You can even schedule things next year. One of the things that I have set up on my calendar is the reminder to carry the trash to the curb. You see, our trash guy comes early Monday morning so we really need to set it out early…like the night before early. Well, every Sunday evening I get a reminder to put the trash out. More than once that reminder has saved us from a week of too much stinky trash.
Speaking of trash…isn’t it amazing just how much trash we generate? I know for two people we seem to make a lot. Several times a week I must take the trash out of the kitchen and to the big trash and then out to the curb on Sunday nights. Usually, of course, the trash is just trash. Potato chip bags, coke cans, plastic water bottles…you know…trash. Of course, there is the stinky stuff too. Meat wrappers, old veggies, scraps…you know…stinky stuff. It is never hard to throw any of that away…it has to go.
Sometimes, when we are cleaning out this or that, we toss out sorta-kinda, good stuff. An old glass or two, a figurine with a chip or two, or maybe a slightly broken lamp…you know…semi-good stuff. It might be useful to someone but not to us so out it goes. As I cruise around town, I am amazed at the stuff people throw away. They are often things people paid a lot of money and they are discarded…no longer wanted or needed. Like I said, sometimes it is amazing. You wonder, what caused the discard? Outta space. Taste changed. Left over from the last move.
Well, I don’t always get it but there is one thing I do get, and I am grateful. I am so glad that God doesn’t have a trash day. And more than that…I am glad that He will never, ever throw me away like so much discarded trash. You see, every one of His kids are valuable to Him. He doesn’t just value the ones who always seem to get it right…He values all of them. More amazing than that is the fact He is just waiting to add to His family. And, once you’re in…you’re in. There is a cool verse in the Bible that says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are.” Wow. How awesome is that.
If you are a Jesus follower, a person who said, “yes” and asked and received God’s forgiveness by believing in His Son, you never have to worry about trash day. He will not, and I repeat, will not, kick you to the curb. How about that? And if you haven’t made that decision yet, what are you waiting for? God loves you and can’t wait for you to join the family. You don’t need to get better, you just need to come and when you do…well, welcome home.
So, you might want to check out the Gmail calendar…it sure helped me. And be sure and check out God…He loves you a lot and won’t let you go. Oh, and as you do life, you will find Him always there for you just waiting to let you know that…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 