Saturday May 28 2016  THE FEATHER PILLOW

Years ago I heard a sermon with a verbal illustration that has since stayed with me.  I will share it with you.

There was a woman who lived in a small town who was quite a gossip.  She was constantly on the phone exclaiming to her friends “have you heard this” or “have you heard that so and so…”.  Most of the stores she told were embroidered with false facts to make them sound more interesting.  She caused great damage between relationships of the town’s people.  Stories she had spread about acquaintances, church friends and relatives caused irreparable heartache. 

After an especially dismal aftermath of one such gossiping episode she realized she had caused great harm to others through her lies and gossip.  With much remorse and heart-searching she understood that what she had done was wrong and that she had hurt the reputation of many.  She went to the Pastor at her church for counsel and confessed her sin of gossiping.  She promised the Pastor that she would never do it again and asked the Pastor what she could do to make amends.

The Pastor told her he wanted to take her someplace but he first had to get something.  He came back with a large bag.  The two left together and walked through town to the tall train trestle that passed overhead at the end of the road.  The blustery wind was strong when they walked to the top of the overpass.  They hiked down the train tracks where they could overlook the town.  The minister opened the large bag, took out a big fluffy pillow filled with feathers and snipped open one entire end of the pillow.  He took out handfuls of feathers and the woman watched him with a quizzical look on her face.  He then shook the pillow tick until it was empty.  Together they stood on the overpass and watched as the wind lifted the feathers high into the sky, swirling them in all directions.  As the feathers drifted further and further away, some landing, some disappearing in the current of the wind, he turned to the woman.  These are the words he spoke to her: “Now go and collect each feather and bring it back to the pillow so we can make the pillow whole again.”  She exclaimed, “It is not possible to do such a feat”.  “So it is with the lies you spoke.  You can never make amends nor take back what was lost due to all the pain you caused”, he told her.

That story really had a great influence on my life.  I hope it will do the same for others who hear it.   Whether you are one to gossip or not, it is always good to remember that God tells us in His Word that we are not to gossip.  Our words are to be like apples of gold in settings of silver.  The poem following was actually written earlier today before I wrote the blog.  I wrote the blog because of the poem and also because I awoke this morning thinking about the story of the feather pillow.

LIKE APPLES OF GOLD

By Kathleen Martens

May 28, 2016

Lord, let the words

that I speak

Be filled with wisdom

Which others seek.

Guard my heart,

The wellspring of life.

Because out of my heart

Speaks peace or strife.

Allow my tongue

To speak words that are pure.

Words of truth

That are spoken sure.

I pray I speak love

In all my speech,

And Your love is felt

To all whom I teach.

Give me discernment

My mouth to close,

That I keep my allies

And not make foes.

When I’m with friends

Help me swallow words

When I’m about to say

What shouldn’t be heard.

And protect me Lord

From speaking gossip to others

That I never slander

My sisters or brothers.

Teach me to articulate

In voice refined,

That my words are like apples of gold,

And always kind.

God thank You for all the stories and words that I have heard that have helped me develop and grow in my journey of life.

Thank You Lord that I can speak.

Thank You for Your Holy Word.

Thank You Jesus that You ARE THE WORD.

Thank You too for directing me to finish cleaning out my office.  I LOVE IT!

And Lord, I LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL!

HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY AND AN EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR SUNDAY SABBATH!