spanking – Grits with Grace

Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, school days, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

“Chucking Rocks”

Posted on April 8, 2024April 6, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

I should have listened. I was a pretty good kid when I was young but let’s be honest. Pretty good doesn’t mean perfect and pretty good doesn’t mean not mischievous. I think it means I was somewhere close to normal. The only thing is normal can still get you into trouble.

One day I was with the family and I’m pretty sure we were in a laundromat. Apparently, the washing machine had broken down and we had to do the washing at the mat. My daddy and I were out in the parking lot while mama was washing the clothes. I was about nine and bored and that is not a good combination. The parking lot was gravel and all those rocks just seemed to be saying, “Throw me.” So, I obliged.

At first it was a little toss here and there but the more I threw, the more I wanted to throw. First it was random, but then I started taking aim. Several things were laying along the edge of the parking lot, and they made great targets but then I got an idea. If hitting a can was good, imagine hitting a moving target. So, I started chucking the rocks in the direction of the road and at the cars passing by. Bad idea.

Now, if you are going to chuck rocks at a car, every nine-year old rock chucker knows you don’t just chuck your rock with obvious intention. You ease into it. Well, I started easing into it and before long, my rocks were landing dangerously close to cars going by. My Daddy thought it was kinda accidental and it garnered a “Dewayne, be careful not to hit the cars.” He hadn’t caught onto my real plan to “ping a hub cap.” Anyway, I kept chucking so he upped the warning.

“Dewayne, listen, don’t throw rocks at the cars.” He had finally caught on and I should have quit while I was ahead. I finally got close enough so that we entered “Final Jeopardy.” “Question—what happens if you hit a car? Answer—I’m gonna give you a spanking.” Yeah, well, you can probably guess where this is going. I chucked a rock and hit a car going by and it was “Final Jeopardy.” Daddy got mad, the driver got mad, and I got in trouble.

Well, Daddy was able to talk to the driver and he promised him the “grapes of wrath” would fall when we got home. As he drove off, Daddy explained about the “grapes of wrath.” Translated it meant I was gonna get a spanking when we got home, and it wasn’t gonna be a little one. So, as soon as we pulled into our driveway, I ran into the house and hid under the dining room table. Soon, I heard Daddy’s voice, “Where are you, Dewayne?” I felt like Adam and Eve in the garden after they had chucked rocks at God and decided to sin. God was looking for them and they were hiding too.

And that’s where things get fuzzy. I don’t remember the spanking which means I probably got grace instead. It probably means that Daddy and I had a long talk about chucking rocks at cars and how that was not a good thing to do. It must have worked because I don’t think I ever chucked another rock at a car…at least one that was moving. That day I learned about obedience and how it has a whole lot less consequences than disobedience. I also learned about grace. Grace is when you deserve a spanking but instead you get a talking. But I also learned about rock chucking. I learned that it was ok to chuck rocks at things like stumps and cans, but it is not ok to chuck rocks at things like cars. When you do there are consequences…big ones.

Now, there’s another kind of rock chucking that I’m still learning about and that is chucking rocks at people. I’m not talking about waylaying someone with a stone but rather waylaying them with our judgmental acts and words. It’s what we do when we see someone fail and we decide to make ourselves feel better by knocking them down.

Jesus ran into this when some religious people found a woman sinning big-time. They dragged her into the middle of a crowd and wanted to stone her. They asked Jesus what would He do? He told them that the person that had never sinned should chuck the first rock. Well, slowly they all walked away because they had all messed up. “Where are your accusers?” Jesus asked the woman. She replied that they had left…and indeed they had.

The only ones left were her, the sinner, and Him, the One who had never sinned. He could have chucked rocks but instead He loved her and forgave her. She deserved the rocks, but He gave her grace. I like that. A lot. So, He dismissed her with a smile and a word of “now don’t go on sinning” and the rocks stayed on the ground…right where they belong.

I am so grateful for grace…and you should be too. If we have experienced grace, we should extend some too. You see, rocks make great parking lots and driveways, but are terrible weapons. They need to stay in the quarry or on the ground. My Daddy showed grace then and my Dearest Daddy shows it every day. We should too. It’s good to know though when we are hiding under the dining room table and He calls, we can come out and sit in His lap and learn about the consequences of sin but also the wonders of grace. So, come on out from your hiding place. We can rest in Him because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Switches and Sand Spurs

Posted on July 12, 2023July 11, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:11

Well, I suppose it worked. Overall, I’m pretty sure I turned out ok. I’ve only had one speeding ticket, had one accident, and have never spent a night in jail. Of course, that may have to do with the fact that I am a pastor. That doesn’t mean I’m too good to go to jail, it only means that church people don’t take too kindly to their preacher being arrested and going there.

Recently, I told my oldest sister that the older I get, the more I appreciate my Momma and Daddy. I’m pretty sure that so many of the things I get right are because of my upbringing and of course, they were responsible for that. Momma and Daddy shared the discipline part of child rearing. Momma was more the “go get a switch from the bamboo bush” and Daddy was the more “wait a minute while I get my belt off” kinda guy. But you know, never was their discipline out of balance and more than once…I got off scot-free.

One time I chucked a rock at a car and Daddy promised me a lesson I wouldn’t soon forget. When we got home, I ran inside and hid under the dining room table. For whatever reason, he chose to extend a boatload of grace and I know two things. First, I was plenty grateful and second, I never chucked another rock at another car. Lesson learned.

Every once in a while, Daddy would get more creative. While I can’t remember the why or the frequency, he had one special way of helping me learn. You see, in Florida we had these prickly things called “sand spurs.” They could and would grow anywhere but they seemed partial to our front yard. Well, one of Daddy’s ways of dealing with them is also one of the ways he dealt with me. When I did something that was punishment worthy, he would take me to the front yard and have me pull the sand spurs up and out of the yard. Like a goat mowing the yard, I would work my way over the right side, it was always the right side of the yard pulling every sand spur I could find. I really, really didn’t like it and I am sure whatever crime I committed, I learned quickly to not do it again.

The Bible, God’s book, also teaches us about discipline. It says, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” We don’t know who wrote the book of Hebrews but whoever it was seemed to know a lot about switches, belts, and sand spurs. And do you know what else? They were certainly right. Discipline is never, ever pleasant.

So, looking back I am glad that my Momma and Daddy cared enough to try and raise me right. And I am glad that my Dearest Daddy in heaven does too. He knows when I’m wrong and He knows when and what is needed to put me back on the straight and narrow. And even better than my parents, He is never excessive and is always graceful. I like that…a lot. No matter the crime, His actions toward me have one purpose—redemption. I can trust Him no matter what and when I need some correction, like everything else, I know for sure, “He’s got that.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, Integrity, life, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Oops.

Posted on April 4, 2023April 3, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

It’s an old, old story…at least for we Taylors. As the baby of our family, I came along toward the tail end of so many good memories. Daddy and Momma had eight kids in all. They had five, apparently needed a break, and then decided to have three more. Well, I’m not sure how much it was a decision as it was a fact of life…no pun intended. There were plenty of tales in the Taylor household but like I said, some happened before I came along.

Daddy and Momma started out with three boys. From everything I know, they were all rough and tumble and that’s just the way it was. Well, apparently, one day things got a little out of hand. More on that in a few minutes. What you need to know now is that one day my Momma went out to use her washing machine and made a startling discovery. Someone had cut the hoses to the machine and the natural suspects were the three older brothers. I’m not sure why they were suspects unless that was part of their rough and tumble motif. I can’t verify it, but I would suspect that at some point, Momma said, “Just wait till your father gets home.”

Well, eventually he did, and Momma told him what had happened. He lined the boys up for a time of interrogation. They assured him that while they were rough and tumble, they weren’t stupid—there was no way they cut the hoses. Well, Daddy didn’t buy it. He was sure that they did. I’m not sure how long they were in the “police lineup” but eventually Daddy said if no one would confess they would all get punished…and they did. I don’t know if it was a switch or a belt, but they got a spanking. Case closed. Daddy was sure they wouldn’t be cutting anymore hoses.

Well, the only problem was this—they didn’t cut them in the first place. Several days later, one of their rough and tumble “friends” confessed to the deed. It turns out in their rough and tumbling the “friend” had gotten mad and decided to get a little revenge so…he cut the hoses. When word got back to Daddy, he called a meeting of “the boys.” Again, I wasn’t there but I heard it went something like this. “Boys, I found out you didn’t cut the hoses to the washing machine—your “friend” did it. Now, at this point in the story it would seem logical that Daddy would at least attempt to apologize for the undue punishment. That didn’t happen. Instead, he said something like this, “You probably needed the spanking anyway.”

I know, you’re thinking, “What! That’s not right. It’s not fair.” But don’t be too quick to cast judgement on my Daddy. The bottom line is he should have apologized, but that was a different time, and we don’t know all the details. Sometimes it is hard for people to apologize…even when they are wrong. Can you identify with that? I know I sure can. Often the words, “I’m sorry” just can’t find their way off my tongue. And if you are a member of the human race, you have probably experienced that too.

Here’s what I do know. My Daddy was a good man, but he wasn’t a perfect man. He, like me, made mistakes. When I heard this story a long time ago, honestly, we probably all laughed. Later, I’m sure it made me think and I came to this conclusion. Instead of judging him for a lapse of judgement in a moment of time I decided to go with what I knew to be true. My Daddy loved them, and he loved me and that was simply enough. I was willing to let love cover a multitude of sins. I know God’s love sure has covered a big multitude of my sins…and I am grateful for that.

The big take away is this. If you find someone has cut your washing machine hoses the most likely suspect probably doesn’t live in your house—possibly but not probably. But more than that—always remember we are recipients of a whole pile of God’s grace, and we should be willing to extend a little. Forgiveness is not for the person you’re forgiving—it is for you. A heart willing to forgive is a happy heart. And, when you find yourself against a rock and hard place trying to forgive someone who hurt you…just remember your Heavenly Father is an expert at forgiving and trust me, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

When Daddy is a Pastor

Posted on September 27, 2022September 26, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself.” James 1:26

It wasn’t what it seemed. The life of a pastor is, well, interesting. In fact, the life of the pastor’s family is interesting. You could say that we live in a glass house and that would be so true. I remember when we lived in a parsonage (that’s a house provided by the church) and we had a wood burning stove. It was difficult to control the heat so often we would leave the front door open to allow some cooler air in. There was a sweet (and she really was) older lady who attended our church, and she was very concerned that we had our door open. She would call saying, “Judy, do you know that your front door is open?” Of course, we did, but she felt it was her civil and religious duty to make sure we were stewards of our electricity.

When we moved to Cobden, Illinois our girls were very young…five and four. Back in those days during worship, the pastor had a big chair where he was to sit on the stage. I don’t know if we did it that way to make the pastor seem important or so everyone could stare at him. It was just the way we did it. Now here is what was interesting. While I was sitting on the stage looking at everyone and everyone was looking at me, Judy was playing the piano. Many pastors are blessed with musically talented wives, and I certainly was one of them. Now don’t miss this. I am on the stage and Judy was at the piano. Who do you suppose was watching the girls? Well, that would be no one. And you know, girls will be girls.

Like so many siblings, the girls loved to pick at one another. It was always nothing serious…just enough to make mom and dad nervous. Well, that Sunday was one of those days. They were being little girls and poking and pinching each other. They were giggling enough to cause a bit of disturbance and to catch their mother’s eye. Judy gave them “the look”. Now every married man knows about “the look”. Personally, I would rather stare down a cobra than face “the look”. The problem was, while Judy was looking…they were not. They were busy poking and pinching. You might wonder what I was doing. I was sitting on the stage trying to ignore the two little girls on the first or second row. I was pretty good at it, too. However, there was no ignoring the lady at the piano.

When they didn’t get the message, Judy made sure I did. I don’t know if it was “the look” or smoke signals coming from behind the piano, but I got the message loud and clear. Handle it. As much as I didn’t like sitting on the stage on the throne, I preferred that to handling the girls in public. I rose from the throne and walked straight to the girls. I took them by the hand and as casually as possible led them out the side door of the sanctuary. Now there is one thing that every pastor has to remember whether he is going to the restroom or taking his kids out to have a “come to Jesus meeting”. Turn your microphone off. I didn’t.

As the door closes behind us, Becca, our oldest, and in her sweetest five-year-old voice says, “Daddy, please don’t hit us.” Now, pause, because I know in this world the idea of hitting a child conjures up all kind of bad things. If there was any hitting it was only going to be a gentle swat on the bottom. Period. I knew that and the girls knew that. Thanks to my not turning my microphone off—everyone in the sanctuary knew it too. You can probably imagine that sweet little voice coming over the speakers. There were no tears between the three of us but there were plenty of tears in the sanctuary. No, they weren’t grieving for those precious little girls—they were fine. They were tears from laughing so hard. We walked back into the sanctuary and every person was either rolling on the floor or trying to stay in their seat. It was a Hallmark moment.

Yup…we live in a glass house for sure. Even worse, I still had to stand up and preach later in the service. Amazingly, somehow, we made it through. It is things like that which make our relationship with the families we serve so special. I have deeply appreciated that through the years. Anyone who knows the Taylor tribe knows that we are unapologetically human. If you are looking for a perfect, plastic pastor family…well, you won’t find it with us. I’ve often said that people can handle Christians who make mistakes…they get that. What they can’t handle is when we act like we are perfect and better than they are. Truth is we are neither.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, said if anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself. Well, spoken, James. In fact, we could probably put several actions in place of controlling our tongue and come to the same conclusion. I am always so grateful that God can handle our imperfections. He never regrets inviting us into His family, but He does desire for us to be honest and real…and so does everyone else. Go ahead, take off the mask and just be you. You can rest assured that His unconditional love will still be there…even when you leave your microphone on. And, if you do, don’t worry, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Chucking Rocks

Posted on August 19, 2021August 18, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

One day I was with the family and I’m pretty sure we were at a laundromat. Apparently, the washing machine had broken down and we had to do the wash at the mat. My daddy and I were out in the parking lot while mama was washing the clothes. I was about nine and bored and that is not a good combination. The parking lot was gravel and all those rocks just seemed to be saying, “Throw me.” So, I obliged.

At first it was a little toss here and there but the more I threw, the more I wanted to throw. First it was random, but then I started taking aim. Several things were laying along the edge of the parking lot and they made great targets but then I got an idea. If hitting a can was good, imagine hitting a moving target. So, I started chucking the rocks in the direction of the road and at the cars passing by. Bad idea.

The only ones left were her, the sinner, and Him, the One who had never sinned. He could have chucked rocks but instead He loved her and forgave her. She deserved the rocks, but He gave her grace. I like that. A lot. So, He dismissed her a smile and a word of “now don’t go on sinning” and the rocks stayed on the ground…right where they belong.

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Anger Management 101

Posted on June 22, 2021June 21, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26

I think I have figured it out. From the time I could remember my mom always told me, “Dewayne, I think you are going to be six feet tall when you grow up.” I believe she based that on the fact that I kinda looked like my brother Joe and he was somewhere near that. Anyway, I grew up with the expectation that I would, well, grow up. Somewhere, something got lost in the translation.

The bottom line is for all of my life I have been slightly height challenged. Now, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it was apparent early on that mom had misjudged the gene pool. Unless a miracle was on the horizon the height expectations needed to be lowered…a lot. By the time I was in the eighth grade I was still about 5”6”. I had managed to lose some of my roundness but I just came up short (pun intended) on the height deal. Too bad I wasn’t born a couple of thousand years ago. Back then, I would almost be tall.

When I was in the ninth grade, I was at the top of the pecking order grade wise. In Florida high school didn’t start till tenth grade so we ninth graders were the kings of the junior high campus…even if you were a tad short. One day in class the teacher stepped out of the room. A guy I knew, and he might have even been a friend, grabbed my pencil and said he was going to break it. “Don’t do it, man” I said in my deepest, tallest voice. He kept threatening to break it and I kept threatening to break him. He broke it and I exploded.

Now before we go on you need to know I was a pretty compliant kid. I am a conflict avoidance adult, and I was a conflict avoidance kid. Something just snapped. I flipped the table over on him, put him in a head hold and proceeded to teach him not to break my pencil. Can someone said, “Stupid?” Well, the teacher walks in, someone breaks up the fight and we get a free trip to the principal’s office. Judgement was swift and right to the seat of the problem. Two swats a day for five days administered by the athletic director. He was not five-six.

So, for the next five days I was to report first thing in the morning to his office, bend over and grab my ankles and two hard swats. Pow—pow. Swift, powerful, and man did they hurt. And they worked. I always left with a strong desire to join the Peace Corps. I never got into another fight. Break my pencil? Sure, go right ahead. I have a spare. I always wondered what sparked that outburst. I think I know. It was short man syndrome or SMS.

I found out that SMS is “an angry male of below average height who feels it necessary to act out in an attempt to gain respect and recognition from others and compensate for his short stature.” I’m pretty sure that is what happened that day. I was wanting some respect and was willing to act stupid to get it. Did I mention two swats a day for five days? So, that week, about day three and swat number six I got over my syndrome and a chunk of my anger. I was just fine at 5’6”. Fortunately, the Lord gave me a couple of more inches and I ended up at a respectable 5’8”. However, I think I am back down to five-seven now. You know, the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Smile.

I really did learn a valuable lesson that day. You should never, and I mean never, let your anger get the best of you. Anger is not a sin when it is controlled and directed in the right direction. Jesus got angry at the people who were abusing His Father’s house. The problem isn’t anger—the problem is control—or lack of it. Paul wrote about this when he said, “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.” Keep your temper tame and don’t let it simmer over night. It’s great for a pork butt but terrible for anger. And every time we don’t, we give Satan the opportunity to win. And, when he wins…we lose. Every time.

So, I’ve learned to be happy where I am. I think 5’8” or 5’7” is just about right. I’m still taller than Judy and she thinks I’m tall, or at least tallish, dark, and handsome. Also, I’m learning not to lose it because I always lose when I do. And, I am learning to trust in Him. If someone breaks my pencil, I’m learning to let God handle it. It’s much better than visiting the coach every morning for five days. There’s something else. I found out that when I’m not facing the coach in the morning, I rest better…especially in Him. I fall to sleep knowing, “He’s got this.” And He does. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Washer Hoses and a Dose of Oops

Posted on April 26, 2021April 25, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

It’s an old, old story…at least for we Taylors. As the baby of our family, I came along toward the tail end of so many good memories. Daddy and Mama had eight kids in all. They had five, apparently needed a break, and then decided to have three more. Well, I’m not sure how much it was a decision as it was a fact of life…no pun intended. There were plenty of tales in the Taylor household but like I said, some happened before I came along.

Daddy and Mama started out with three boys. From everything I know, they were all rough and tumble and that’s just the way it was. Well, apparently, one day things got a little out of hand. More on that in a few minutes. What you need to know now is that one day my Mama went out to use her washing machine and made a startling discovery. Someone had cut the hoses to the machine and the natural suspects were the three older brothers. I’m not sure why they were suspects unless that was part of their rough and tumble motif. I can’t verify it, but I would suspect that at some point, Mama said, “Just wait till your father gets home.”

Well, eventually he did, and Mama told him what had happened. He lined the boys up for a time of interrogation. They assured him that while they were rough and tumble, they weren’t stupid—there was no way they cut the hoses. Well, Daddy didn’t buy it. He was sure that they did. I’m not sure how long they were in the “police lineup” but eventually Daddy said if no one would confess they would all get punished…and they did. I don’t know if it was a switch or a belt, but they got a spanking. Case closed. Daddy was sure they wouldn’t be cutting anymore hoses.

I know, you’re thinking, “What! That’s not right. It’s not fair.” But don’t be too quick to cast judgement on my Daddy. The bottom line is he should have apologized, but that was a different time and we don’t know all the details. Sometimes it is hard for people to apologize…even when they are wrong. Can you identify with that? I know I sure can. Often the words, “I’m sorry” just couldn’t find their way off my tongue. And if you are a member of the human race, you have probably experienced that too.

Here’s what I do know. My Daddy was a good man, but he wasn’t a perfect man. He, like me, made mistakes. When I heard this story a long time ago, honestly, we probably all laughed. Later, I’m sure it made me think and I came to this conclusion. Instead of judging him for a lapse of judgement in a moment of time I decided to go with what I knew to be true. My Daddy loved them, and he loved me and that was simply enough. I was willing to let love cover a multitude of sins. I know God’s love has sure covered a big multitude of my sins…and I am grateful for that.

The big take away is this. If you find someone has cut your washing machine hoses the most likely suspect probably doesn’t live in your house—possibly but not probably. But more than that—always remember we are recipients of a whole pile of God’s grace and we should be willing to extend a little. Forgiveness is not for the person you’re forgiving—it is for you. A heart willing to forgive is a happy heart. And, when you find yourself against a rock and hard place trying to forgive someone who hurt you…just remember your Heavenly Father is an expert at forgiving and trust me, “He’s got this.”

Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, Southern born, thankful, wisdom

The “Switchings”

Posted on February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

I guess I just got bored. When I was growing up in North Florida it was just easy to get bored. It was a different time. There was no internet, no satellite or cable television, and no electronic games. Then, you have to add to that there just weren’t a lot of toys to play with. While Daddy and Mama loaded us up at Christmas, by summer a lot of them had suffered from rough play. So, you had to get a little creative! And that’s when I got into trouble.

One of my favorite things was to make rubber band guns. It was really quite easy. They were building houses across the street from where we lived (slowly our place in the country was becoming suburban). Like at any construction site there were lots of wedge shaped sticks sticking out of the ground. I later learned they were surveyor sticks. Oops. Anyway, they had lots and I needed one, every once in a while, so I would, uh, borrow one…or two. Well, Mama took the local newspaper so we got a paper every day and it came wrapped with a rubber band. You simply collect a few rubber bands (they were discarded in the yard), drive a nail in your stick and tada…you had a rubber band gun. See…creative.

Well, that was bound to get old, so I came up with another idea. In North Florida, the soil (at least where we lived) was very sandy. I discovered that if you take a water hose and start forcing it against the sandy soil it will act like a drill. As the water forced the sand away, the hose would slowly sink into the sand. Well, it was fun. Before I knew it, the hose was a foot in the ground, then it was two, and then it was three and it was just about then I wondered how I would get it out. So, I gave it a tug. It didn’t budge. I gave it a pull—nope, it didn’t give an inch. I was in trouble.

What happened next is lost to time and history, but one of two things happened. Number one. I left the hose stuck in the ground. Daddy came home and wanted to water his rose bushes. He found the hose stuck in the ground, asked me and I told the truth, and I was sent to the bamboo bushes to get my own instrument of correction. Think a thin bamboo switch. It was effective…every time. Number two. I realized that the hose was stuck in the ground and I realized that Daddy would be coming home soon, and he would water his rose bushes. So, I went in the house and got a knife and cut off the hose. The end result was the same. He asked, I told, bamboo switch. By the way…another sign that times have changed. I looked up switch and was told it turned electricity off and on and was an electronic game that kids play. Mine was neither.

You know, I really didn’t intend to mess up the construction site across from my house and I really didn’t mean to get my Daddy’s hose stuck in the sand. The truth was I was just naive. But there is another truth. My being naive didn’t change the fact that I shouldn’t have done what I did and in the case of my Daddy’s hose—it didn’t change the consequences. You might be asking, “Did your Daddy really give you a “switching?” And the answer is yes. You might ask, “Do you think you deserved the “switching?” The answer is yes. Finally, you might ask, “Did you learn anything from the “switching?” And the answer is yes.

You see, I never, ever again, turned on the water and let the water hose get stuck in the ground. I don’t believe I was ever even tempted to let the water hose get stuck in the ground. You see, the “switching” was not an act of anger or meanness, it was an act of love. Daddy was teaching me about right and wrong and I am grateful for that. Daddy had several ways to discipline and they were generally fair and not too harsh. And I believe they worked because I’ve never been arrested or spent a night in jail—yet. I wrote recently about being a compliant person…and I am, but part of that might be because my Daddy (and Mama) cared enough to help me learn.

I never really bought into the thought that the “switching” hurt my Daddy more than me because I know it hurt pretty bad. But I do know he didn’t enjoy it. My Heavenly Father doesn’t enjoy it either and He loves me even more than my earthly Daddy. God’s Book, the Bible, says that no discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Well, that is the truth. But is also says that later on it yields a kind of fruit—the kind that teaches us right from wrong. And that is profitable.

So, the lessons for today? Don’t pull up surveyor sticks and don’t stick your Daddy’s hose in the dirt and above all…remember that your Father up in heaven loves you. In fact, He loves you enough to allow hard things in your life to help you learn right from wrong…to make better decisions with fewer consequences and regrets. And don’t worry…He is loving and patient. He never over reacts but rather responds in just the right way. And as always, He’s got even this.

Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

Chucking Rocks

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

One day I was with the family and I’m pretty sure we were at a laundromat. Apparently the washing machine had broken down and we had to do the wash at the mat. My daddy and I were out in the parking lot while mama was washing the clothes. I was about nine and bored and that is not a good combination. The parking lot was gravel and all those rocks just seemed to be saying, “Throw me.” So, I obliged.

At first it was a little toss here and there but the more I threw, the more I wanted to throw. First it was here and there but then I started taking aim. Several things were lying along the edge of the parking lot and they made great targets but then I got an idea. If hitting a can was good, imagine hitting a moving target. So I started chucking the rocks in the direction of the road and at the cars passing by. Bad idea.

Now, if you are going to chuck rocks at a car, every nine year old rock chucker knows you don’t just chuck your rock with obvious intention. You ease into it. Well, I started easing into it and before long my rocks were landing dangerously close to cars passing by. My Daddy thought it was kinda accidental and it garnered a “Dewayne, be careful to not hit the cars.” He hadn’t caught onto my real plan to “ping a hub cap.” Anyway, I kept chucking so he upped the warning.

Well, Daddy was able to talk to the driver and he promised him the “grapes of wrath” would fall when we got home. As he drove off, daddy explained about the “grapes of wrath.” Translated, it meant I was gonna get a spanking when we got home and it wasn’t gonna be a little one. So, as soon as we pulled into our driveway, I ran into the house and hid under the dining room table. Soon, I heard Daddy’s voice, “Where are you, Dewayne?” I felt like Adam and Eve in the garden after they had chucked rocks at God and decided to sin. God was looking for them and they were hiding too.

And that’s where things get fuzzy. I don’t remember the spanking which means I probably got grace instead. It probably means that Daddy and I had a long talk about chucking rocks at cars and how that was not a good thing to do. It must have worked because I don’t think I ever chucked another rock at a car…at least one that was moving. That day I learned about obedience and how it has a lot less consequences than disobedience. I also learned about grace. Grace is when you deserve a spanking but instead you get a talking. But I also learned about rock chucking. I learned that it was ok to chuck rocks at things like stumps and cans, but it is not ok to chuck rocks at things like cars. When you do there are consequences…big ones.

Jesus ran into this when some religious people found a woman sinning big. They dragged her into the middle of a crowd and wanted to stone her. They asked Jesus what He would do. He told them that the person that had never sinned should chuck the first rock. Well, slowly they all walked away because they had all messed up. “Where are your accusers?” Jesus asked the woman. She replied that they had left…and indeed they had.

The only two left were her, the sinner and Him, the One who had never sinned. He could have chucked rocks but instead He loved her and forgave her. She deserved the rocks but He gave her grace. I like that. A lot. He dismissed her a smile and a word of “now don’t go on sinning” and the rocks stayed on the ground…right where they belong. So, I am grateful for grace…and you should be too. If we have experienced grace we should extend some too. You see, rocks make great parking lots and driveways but are terrible weapons. They need to stay in the quarry or on the ground. My daddy showed grace then and my Dearest Daddy shows it every day. We should too. However, it’s good to know when we are hiding under the dining room table and He calls, we can come out and sit in His lap and learn about the consequences of sin but also the wonders of grace. So, come on out from your hiding place. We can rest in Him because, “He’s got this.”