Ladybugs & My Favorite Donkey

My house has been invaded by ladybugs.  The funny thing?  They follow me.  Only me.  Really cute at first, but now it's just kinda creepy.  We were told that they will find a way into your house when it gets cold out, finding shelter into a warmer environment.  The funny thing is, they are coming in through my office, where I spend most of my time during the day.  But then, for some apparent reason, when I go sit in the living room, they follow me there and hang out on the ceiling above me.  Oh, and when I get a shower, they go as far as they can to the bathroom door, which I keep shut so that my shower is free of all ladybug eyes... the little stinkers.  I feel like Noah's wife.  And you know what else about these little suckers?  They sting.  They haven't stung me, but they stung my husband.  It makes me wonder if they are protecting me.  They remind me of Radar, the donkey.  Now, Radar is one of my best friends.  I don't get to see him much anymore, but when we saw each other on a more than daily basis, he used to kiss up and down my arm, I would rub on his ears, and we were the cutest couple you've ever seen.  But anytime my husband would come around, even if I wasn't with him, Radar would stomp his feet, get angry, etc.  He did not like Justin very much at all.  He wanted me all to himself, and he couldn't handle having Justin around.

Do these ladybugs and Radar have something in common?  I'm just askin.  I think that happens with us humans at times.  Sometimes, we have people all to ourselves, and then someone else comes along and we stamp our feet and throw a fit, and sometimes take a hateful bite out of them with our snide comments.  You see what I mean?  We find ourselves getting comfortable with our "group."  Yeah, that's who you hang out with because you have a lot in common with them, and it's such a blessing to have people that you're comfortable around enough to talk about God's teachings and about life.  But I heard someone say yesterday that they didn't know this particular someone hardly at all, even though they'd gone to the same church for years!  Now I know that God puts specific people in our lives for a reason;  He gives us best friends to share with.  But at the same time, it's really sad to see a situation where someone passes away, someone that you have shared the same room with a few times a week for years, and to not even know much about 'em.  I do think God wants us to reach out to those outside our comfort zone a little bit more than we usually do.  Now I'm speaking for myself here as well.  I an the type of gal who is laid-back beyond measure, and I'm very comfortable just feeling things out, not being Miss Socialite.  I like being around people who will entertain me; dance, monkey, dance!  Hee hee.  But I find it so rewarding when I reach out to those whom I don't necessarily have much in common with.

We have a mouth, so let's use it.  We have somewhat decent social skills, so let's use 'em.  We have a God who loves everyone around us, even those whom we find it hard to like, even though we love 'em.  You know what I'm saying...  you sure do.  Been there, done that, you got a crazy cheap t-shirt to prove it too...

To what should I compare this generation?  It's like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:  We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance;  we sang a lament, but you didn't mourn!  For John did not come eating or drinking and they say, 'He has a demon!'  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'  Yet wisdom is vindicated by their deeds.  Matthew 11:16-19

I think we always try to play it too cool.  There is so much being offered to this generation, but instead we find ways to ridicule and ignore what's really there.  Oh that we would just break down all barriers and live fearlessly!

God sent John the Baptist to live his life out fearlessly, preparing The Way for Jesus.  What an honor!  However a lot of people thought he was crazy.  But so what?!  We actually have that opportunity today because we have all we need to be God's Messengers.  Let's take up our responsibility.  Cause you know that's what we have.  A responsibility.  And He will reward us for it!

Don't forget to vote today!  Pray and listen for God's Still Voice in your decision today.

God bless America!

-Tara K