Good Morning…
Remember the huge tree that fell in our yard during the high, drenching winds of Hurricane Irma? From various tree removal companies, we got estimate after estimate. When we settled on the crew that would care for our old oak, my husband met with the coordinator to discuss all the details. After they talked, my husband told me, “Instead of maneuvering over the large ditch and through the wide opening in our crashed-down fence, they need to bring the heavy stump grinder into the backyard through our side gate.”
Let me just tell you, our side gate is rickety and, just to keep the thing intact and upright, we have nailed it shut with a wooden board. “Honey, if they come through our side gate, then, on top of the cost of removing the tree, we will have to pay to replace that precarious gate. We know it will fall apart if someone tries to open it.”
“I agree,” he said. “Why don’t you tell the crew leader to find a way to bring his equipment and his workers through the portion of fence already wrecked by the tree?” His suggestion fell straight in line with my own thoughts, so I emailed the foreman, “We are grateful that you will remove our tree, but since our side gate is unusable you will need to bring your equipment and your workers through the large area in our tree-wrecked fence.”
The next day they did just that, negotiating the deep ditch before coming through the preexisting opening in our back fence to grind the uprooted stump, ten feet in circumference. Working quickly and diligently, their machine made a big pile of mulch from the final remains of our tree, while our rickety gate remained untouched and our make-shift boundary stayed respected. My husband and I are grateful that together we said “yes” to this chosen tree professional and “no” to his crew damaging our fragile gate.
Similarly, sometimes we need to protect the fragile gate to our heart, saying “yes” to positive influences and “no” to the hurtful, “no” to the harmful. Feeling worn down and rickety, we may need to nail ourselves shut temporarily, keeping ourselves upright, defending our need to keep out the things that will grind us down. Not protecting the precarious gate to the home of our heart may carry quite costly repercussions.
Jesus said this to our protective Father in heaven: I do not ask you to take them out of the world. But I ask you to take care of them, so that the evil one of this world will not harm them (John 17:15, WE).
…Sue…
