Prodigal: Gee whiz! What a great garden!

Me: It is beautiful, and amazing.

This is from the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

There is a paradox here. As long as Dick does not turn to God, he thinks his niceness is his own, and just as long as he thinks that, it is not his own. It is when Dick realises that this niceness is not his own but a gift from God, and when he offers it back to God-it is just then that it begins to be really his own. For now Dick is beginning to take a share in his own creation. The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God. What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose.

Anything can be a distraction from the Lord. Even how nice people say you are. Pride can increase because of how nice you are. Before long you expect verbal praise from others about your niceness. Then you start making decision so that you hear more about yourself and not necessary what God wants you to do. It is great that you have a kind heart, but you may be drifting from the Lord.

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.

MATTHEW 15 : 30

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org