Tiny Devotional for Tuesday, 07-27-2021

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, sliced hog jowl and mozzarella cheese on a croissant.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:2, NASB

I believe we can all agree that we could tell our life stories by describing the challenges we have faced.  Some of those we overcame, others overcame us, but regardless of outcome, it was the process itself that formed our character. 

NOTE: I am NOT saying that life is nothing but conflict; only that a stranger who heard a history of your encounters with obstacles would develop a reasonably accurate picture of you.

Long centuries ago, our ancestors might have been contending with tigers, drought, barbarians, or oppressive overlords, but two things are true:
  1. They DID contend, and
  2. We are the descendants of those who triumphed.

Our challenges are different today, mostly. Very few people are aggravated much by wild animals (although my gift-from-God, happily-ever-after trophy wife Vanessa, the elegant, foxy, praying black grandmother of Woodstock, GA fears snakes). Instead, the source of our stress seems to be: other people. I can give you statistics, if you want them, but think about your own experience: isn’t it the behavior of other folks that irritates you most often?

Therefore, why would you EVER want to set yourself up? When we praise ourselves, it’s a signal to others: “KICK ME!”

If my ancient ancestor saw me bragging on myself, he’d say: 

Rydych chi'n blentyn anwybodus, Nid dyna sut y gwnes i ladd y ddraig!*

Let’s honor our ancestors; don’t brag!

Peace be on your household.

*Ignorant child, that’s not how I killed the dragon!

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