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It
was one of the biggest days in our life--moving after some 20 years of being in
a business growing cut roses. The place had suddenly sold and now it was time
to pack (or throw away) the cherished valuables we had collected. I chided and
humored our children that what they wished to pitch out was in fact, their inheritance.
With my eyes closed and head turned, the big bonfire consumed an old oak swivel
chair, a 10' toboggan found on some highway, a ping pong table, and more. My old
toys and unfinished projects would soon be ashes. And my teenagers felt good about
their big bonfire. "Dad," they teased, "one man's junk is someone else's treasure!"
The barn soon look empty.
This got me into a reflecting mode. Yes, the difference between men
and boys is the size of their toys. As I got older, my toys became larger. My
old toys with their bells and whistles at one time would give me happiness and
contentment. Gradually, they broke down, and to keep them was questionable; but
to throw them out, unmentionable.
Happiness, perhaps found in a few toys, soon wears off. And
happiness is hard to find. Being a former teacher, I have understood the age old
fact that students who follow the rules in obedience generally are happier. The
Bible says happiness is a gift from God when we are obedient to His will (Deuteronomy
6:3).
However, this point became strikingly clear to me when an electrician
came to do some rewiring for the new owner. A dozen years ago I had installed
a 100 amp panel in the barn. I had used an allen wrench to tighten the heavy wire
going into the circuit breaker box. |
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The electrician showed
me how much the wire had burned and corroded in time as it was not tightened adequately.
He stressed that the whole place could have gone up in smoke very shortly. Obedience
and happiness--just like this old corroded wire--the closer we become aligned
with our Creator, the more happy and safe we will be. Interesting. Loose relationships
are like loose wires - corrosion sets in, creating unhappiness.
We all have to move in time and our old toys will be abandoned.
We realize they could not give us that deep down, continuous joy. "Time to move,"
we say, and find a true source of happiness. We fool ourselves thinking anything
but God can give inner joy. If we tightly align ourselves to His will, realize
that we fail miserably on our own, He will do the big move and create true inner
happiness. It may have been 20 years ago when you first met Him but He still holds
out His hand to welcome you. Would you not consider the big move today?
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Ready
to make the big move? 
