I live in a small farming town in Southwest Oklahoma. There are 800 souls, one convenience store and a corner cafe. We have a few other businesses, including a new Dollar General (woo-hoo!), but you get the picture.
One of the biggest events in our town is the annual Christmas parade. There are custom made floats, tractors, antique cars and plenty of horses.
But lots of folks on horse back means plops on the parade route. (If you know what I mean.) And no matter how great the festivities, it’s hard to ignore the manure trailing down the middle of main street. This line of “used oats” is often in the camera shot of our local TV news coverage, much to our mayor’s chagrin.
But—like with most things—the good outweighs the bad. The Christmas parade provides a splendid opportunity for our whole community to come together. In the big picture, who minds a little manure?
Job was a guy in the Bible who had a lot more good in his life than bad. Until he didn’t. You know the story. He lost almost everything overnight: his livestock and crops, even his children. GONE. All he had left was his life, a pessimistic wife and a few ‘friends’ who came to cross examine him.
Yet what did Job say when he learned of his losses? “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21b -NIV) And what did he tell his wife when she told him he should, “Curse God and die?” He replied, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10 NIV)
As the old saying goes, “Into every life some plops must drop.” Okay, maybe I changed that up a little.🥸 Yet in this matter, many Christians today aren’t interested in learning the patience and wisdom of Job. We like our roses without thorns, thank you. But what if the best way to get there is to turn those thorns INTO roses?
One of my favorite “thorns to roses” moments in the Bible occurs in Jeremiah 29. God sends a letter (via Jeremiah) to the exiled Israelites living in Babylon. In a nutshell, He says: “I sent you to Babylon, but I want you to prosper there. Build houses, and plant gardens. Marry and have sons and daughters.”
In other words, make the good outweigh the bad. Here’s my favorite part:
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV)”
So, brave reader, whatever our “parade” is—yours and mine—we’d best pray to the Lord for it. Because if it prospers, so will we. And when there’s more good than bad, nobody minds a little manure.
But watch your step if you cross Main street.
Photo by picjumbo.com on Pexels.com
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
36 responses to “Life Parade”
I mustn’t have made myself clear. The closest I’ve ever been to Big Sur is through looking at your amazing videos and pictures. I saw a news story about the damage done to roads in the area.
Thank you for your encouraging comment. I will do my best to continue letting God’s light shine through me.
Blessings
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Job’s Faith & outlook in life is an inspiration to us all in this very challenging , confusing, painful times. Yes, there is joy , should have joy in both the bad & good. So finding in finding God’s love and work in them. Take care my friend. Please continue to be a light for us all. By the way, hope you had a great road trip at Big Sur. Did you drive from Southern California? From my side, I usually just drive passed Bixby Bridge.
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How sweet! 😊
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Thanks for sharing, Beth! I love my little home town and it’s traditions. God Bless.
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David this post resonates with my country girl heart. We have a similar parade down main street that kicks off the annual harvest fair. Each “troop” of horses is followed by a wheelbarrow and shovel. Thank you for the encouragement to “make the good outweigh the bad.”
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Amen.🙏 Thank you!
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So true. What better thing can we do for our locality than pray for, and seek, its peace and prosperity?
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Thanks, Vince! God Blessings to you.
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Very inspirational. On target in today’s life.
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As I recall, your post was about praying for our elected leaders, whether we agree with them or not. I always remember good posts😇.
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Good memory!
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I like your thinking here, Gary. We have to be willing to get our hands dirty in helping others. Little messes become bigger when God’s people aren’t salt and light. Thank you for your encouraging words. Blessings.
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Good words in our times David. When life is bad for a lot of people these days, it’s not hard to see where we can do some good and make a difference, get dirty in the clean-up in peoples lives rather than hunkering down.
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Thank you, Maria. There is always a rainbow 🌈 somewhere. Blessings.
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Yes, into a life, a little rain will fall yet the Sun will always shine again. Perspective is everything with the help of the Lord our God. Looking for the rainbow of hope which is God’s sign of eternal love for us. Beautiful post David 🌈❤🌠✨🤗
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Amen, brother. “Mind how you go.” Someday when I visit Scotland 🏴 I will step in a plop for good luck. The Irish have it backwards. Who needs a 🍀 four leaf clover?
God Bless you, and thank you for sharing.
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You are so funny, Sully!
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I love the positivity in this post David! In our country it is considered lucky to step in “plops”, although the wife might not appreciate it on a newly cleaned kitchen floor. Even a bird “plop” on the shoulder is considered good luck. As light hearted as these are, through them we are reminded that our Lord is Lord of all things. He is in charge of good and bad every day, even the “plops” in our walk with Him. God bless you brother, and mind how you go 😉
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I just wanted to plop by and let you know I really enjoy your devos, especially this one. Your hometown sounds like a Hallmark movie. 😉😉😉
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My favorite game was the 1971 Game of the Century. It was back and forth. Of course as a Husker fan I loved the outcome lol
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Me too. OU vs Nebraska was always a big game back in the Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer days.
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I am a Husker fan. I miss the old Big 8 days and the Husker.Sooner rivalry
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I’m not a big sports rivalry guy, but the college I graduated from is part of the OU system. So, I am a Sooner fan.
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Small town parades 🙂
Are you a Oklahoma or Oklahoma State fan?
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We can hardly wait! Our first (short) trip is one month from yesterday. God willing!
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Thank you, Betty. I hope you and Dan enjoy your weekend as well. RV season is just around the corner!
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You are most welcome, Jeff. Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate your helpful thoughts. Blessings.
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Nice post, David! Very uplifting as always. Enjoy your weekend!
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As I recall, you used this same verse in a recent post. That’s what got me thinking about the importance of keeping the proper perspective. Thank you! Blessings.
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I like the last verse you had from Jeremiah – help the place you’re in and you’ll prosper with it. We can use that today wherever we are, both in physical terms but also spiritual/ Make your corner of the world more spiritually prosperous by sharing the Gospel every chance you get!
Thanks for prompting this thought in me!
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Great verse from Jeremiah!! ☺
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The annual parade in my hometown is for Pioneer Days in May. I’m familiar with the plops.
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How true! Thanks, Barb. Life in our Father’s world (to borrow your title) is a package deal. Thank you, and God Bless.
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Bring on the parade, plops & all, for the plops are the fertilizer for growth!
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Perspective, indeed, Sally. I didn’t use the word, but that’s what this post is about. I like the idea of thornless roses. If St. Clare can grow them, we an too!
Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
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Great post, David, and it helps us to put everything into perspective.
St. Clare had an amazing garden in Italy, which we visited a few years ago.
In her garden, she grew a special kind of roses, which have no thorns. ⚘🤗
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