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One day on the farm Frank and I and our little sister Connie, ages
8, 6 and 5 respectively, were returning to the house at noon for
dinner (that’s lunch to you city folks) and found our path to the
back door blocked by our mean red-headed rooster we called Tom. He
was guarding all the chickens in the yard. We were afraid because
previous encounters left us with peck marks and scratches from the
sharp talons on his feet.
We tried to sneak around the chickens but each time Tom would move
over to challenge us. He would raise his wings, bristle his head
feathers and lunge at us. Connie began to cry; afraid we would
never get to the house. Frank came up with a great plan (he’s famous
for great plans!). The plan was for me and him to run past Tom and
around the house so Tom would chase us, then Connie would run into
the house and tell Mama, who would come outside and rescue us. Great
plan!As planned, Tom ran after us as we disappeared around the
house. Just as planned, Connie ran into the house. But, she forgot
to tell Mama about Tom! We were on our third trip around the house,
with Tom gaining on us, when we realized we were in trouble. We were
thirsty, hot, tired and losing steam. We began to yell, “Mama,
Mama!” She heard us during the fourth circle and as we rounded the
back of the house there stood Mama, hiding at the corner with her
broom over her shoulder like Babe Ruth. When Tom appeared Mama hit a
home run! Tom became a frequent flyer and feathers went everywhere
as he flew about 20 feet backwards! The chickens all gathered around
clucking and squawking as Tom staggered off to the hen house. From
that day forward Tom ran every time he saw Mama or a broom!
I want to use this event to illustrate four types of people I have
seen in my ministry. The first type is like Connie; shallow in their
commitments and prone to take lightly the promises they make to you
(she was only 5!). The second type is like Frank and me; running
from their fears and challenges with no real plan on what to do if
things don’t go as planned. The third type is like Tom; arrogant,
aggressive insensitive to others and always demanding their own
way. And the fourth is like Mama; a person of integrity, a friend
who can be depended on to help you face adversity with confidence
and action! Which one are you; Connie, Frank and me, Tom or Mama,
the person of action? Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...”
I encourage you to be a person of quality and action, just like
Mama.
Common Sense Application
1. Never promise what you can’t deliver! Write
them down and fulfill them as promised.
2. Stop running from those things that
challenge and frighten you. Make a commitment to tackle the hardest
tasks first each day and the rest of the day will be a breeze.
3. If you are arrogant and insensitive like Tom
you will be the last to realize it. Hints include the lack of close
friends, business associates who avoid you and continuous shallow
relationships. Pray, ask someone you trust to give you an honest
assessment of your personality and listen to them.
4. When you find changes are needed in your
life, take action! Make the changes! Be a person of character and
action, just like Mama.
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