A tech at the hospital brought Doc several jars of peach preserves which he had ordered and some plums from the farm she and her husband own.
Wiping the sweet ruby juice that runs down his chin, he comments that it is the best plum he has ever had.
She smiles as he finishes the rest of his snack.
“Yea, that is from our best producing tree. It is around that tree that we dump the chicken dung from the chicken coops.”
I laugh as I watch her try to get him riled, but Doc just smiles back and says, “Yep, best chicken fed plum I ever had!”
I began to think about that chicken dung. Something most people try to bury, throw out, or at the very least walk past and make sounds of disgust
I have dung in my life, everyone does. Stuff from the past that I try to bury and throw out as if it never existed. Stuff that I have given to the Lord, stuff I have learned mighty lessons from but I bury it down for fear that if you knew you would make a sound of disgust.
Some people caution me not to tell, “ you will ruin your reputation,” and I am then paralyzed with fear.
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25
And fear casts its net in hopes of prey unaware.
We must be aware that our weakness comes forth as strength as it is given to Christ.
Is the greatest fear we all have the fear of dirt; of someone having dirt on us? Do we fear that they will try to bury us in our own dirt long before it is time for us to return to the dirt?
So you will find favor and a good repute in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on you own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverb 3:4-6
So this is where I am – I gave my life to Christ years ago, it is no longer mine but His. If He calls my buried dirt, fertilizer, then so be it. It is no longer my story but His, no longer my dirt and shame, but His story and glory. He can tell my story, dig up my dirt, and spread it under any tree he chooses so that good fruit can come out of the lives of others.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
I am leaving in the morning for She Speaks, then to DC for a vacation with my Grand-Anna and will not be blogging much. But I’ll have plenty of stories and pictures to share when I get back.
You are my girls and guys and I am so very thankful for you in my life.
~Di
Linking today with Walk with Him Wednesday, Women Living Well, Getting Down with Jesus, Unwrapping His Promises And Internet Cafe
Latest posts by Diane W. Bailey (see all)
- What God Can Do with A Shattered Heart - September 5, 2022
- When It Is Time to Bring Your Ship Ashore - January 2, 2018
- Art Of Hospitality – How to Love Others As Ourselves - November 27, 2017
God’s traveling mercies in your travels Di. Good story with a lot of truth/ The picture os the tree is awesome. I, for one, would rather not know what dung had fertilized something I was in the midst of eating.
I’m with you Gin!
Great post even if the visual is a bit ‘smelly’… ha we know that good things do come out of bad things and that is the way God made life. We have to have good and bad to make better.
have a wonderful time at the retreat and visiting relatives.
Thank you Sharon. Blessings on you!
you write beautifully.
BEAUTIFULLY!
-Jennifer
You bless me so, Jennifer. Thank you.
Ahh.. I love this imagery- and am so grateful for a God who can use our DUNG for His Glory! Blessings at She Speaks! I’m glad I stopped by from Jennifer’s place today.
A pleasure to meet you Alicia, Hope we cross paths again!
That last photo is stunning.
Good thinking and sharing. Believe me, with my background nothing but filthy dung would be dumped and no one would have been pleased. Too much gunk and too stinky. And so rotten nothing good would have come up. NOW, belonging to the Lord, any of me that is spread around the “trees” and helping bring forth “seed”, even though it doesn’t look perfect to the general people, our Lord uses me/”it” to be useful. Nothing can feel more welcoming in my life.
Bless your time around and about…
Joanne your joy for the Lord comes through as a sweet fragrance even when it seems all things to be reduced to dirt. You are a blessing!
Hi Diane! I’m a friend of Susan Stilwell (and hear y’all had a wonderful time together) and popped over from her blog. Loved my visit!!! I’m praying for all of you at She Speaks, that all were a blessing and blessed. Hugs!
Hello Kristi! I have just gotten internet up and running so that I can reply to you! We did have a wonderful time. Hope to meet you next time we are together. Thank you so for stopping by, introducing yourself and visiting! Hope to chat again.
~Di