Until I married into a 4-H family during the summer of 1985, I had no idea what that organization involved. I had heard the story of Jesus being born in a stable and laid on a bed of straw, but the reality of barns, water troughs, and cleaning up after farm animals was an alien concept.
Proverbs 14:4 could be the motto of every 4-H or farming family when it says, “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.”
“Thank God for dirty dishes; they have a tale to tell. While others may go hungry, we’re eating very well,” wrote Mary Arlis Stuber.
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for,” penned John A. Shedd.
“You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”
Whether written by King Solomon or a more recent author, the message is the same: Life is, by nature, often chaotic. Without that messiness, little would be accomplished.
Just as cleaning stables is challenging, hard work with occasional disappointments, serving the Kingdom of God involves hard work, occasional disappointments, and unexpected challenges. Yet, through it all, we have the words and example of Jesus to encourage us to do the “hard things.”
Matthew 5:14-16 — We are to bring glory to God by our lives.
Matthew 25:35-40 — We serve God through our humble service to those around us.
Mark 9:34-35 — In God’s economy, service to others is considered honorable and the mark of a true leader.
Mark 10:42-45 — Since God’s Son came to serve others, how much more should Jesus’ followers do the same?
John 13:12-15 — Christ’s example of washing the disciples’ feet was meant to inspire His followers to show the same pattern of love.
Broken eggshells. Storm-battered ships. Dirty dishes. Even lived-in stables.
Life is messy, but Jesus modeled for us the best way to manage whatever comes our way. Expect the chaos, knowing that only God’s strength, wisdom, and power can bring purpose to your “messy stables.”
mpaxson99@yahoo.com
