Corona Devo 530

I knew I had a short window, but I wanted to make the time.  

Elderberries are only in season for a couple short weeks, but I love their taste and the nostalgia of their flavor in pies and cobblers is adored throughout generations of my family.  Plus, it turns out that they are hip for their health benefits too.   I knew I had a short window, and I wanted to make the time to shuck them.

But the days, they are so full!  The schedule and responsibilities versus the hours awake seem to be in all-out war this time of year.  So many things to do.  

The berries were ripe.  They hung there beckoning me to pick/bake/jam/freeze them.

But there they hung.  And hung.  And then birds ate them and the sun baked them...and I didn't pick them.  

Perhaps I could have gotten them picked, but something else would have had to give from obligations to my attitude.  However, in wisdom, I took a deep breath and realized that I wouldn't trade the outcomes that have been produced in the last two weeks for a cobbler.  

It's okay.  Sometimes wisdom means trading the "many" things for a few wiser things.  Although I love elderberry cobbler or jars of jam stacked in the pantry, in wisdom I realized that it's okay.  We won't always get it all done.  Wisdom is choosing the most important duties first, and wisdom is also allowing yourself the grace of "some" incompletions.  

Proverbs 8

Wisdom's Call

(1) Does not wisdom call out?  Does not understanding raise her voice?
(2) At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;... Proverbs 8:1-2

Sometimes it is so very hard to discern wisdom's voice as she "calls out" to us day to day, but wisdom is there.  We cannot (ever) say that wisdom is vacant in our lives, because the reality is that "she" is present and attempting to gain our attention and give us direction.  But with so many other influences we can lose our connection to wisdom or confuse "duty" or "obligation" with wisdom, thus missing "her" even though she has taken her stand.  

But wisdom does not give up, even if we miss her once in a while:  

(3) beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
(4) “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
(5) You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
(6) Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
(7) My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
(8) All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
(9) To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.  ~Proverbs 8:3-9

Wisdom "cries aloud" and "calls out" in our lives.  God will show us and give us wisdom and He will make it clear.  But we must be open to His wisdom.  And if we are (open), we will benefit from wisdom.  We will understand the path of wisdom, which provides a way that is trustworthy and right.  

(10) Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

(11) for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

(12) “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. 

(19) My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

~Proverbs 8:10-12, 19

If we are wise we will choose wisdom's instruction over silver, gold, and rubies, and sometimes elderberries.  And it's okay.  The temptations/choices/variables within our days and lives are many.  Sometimes we feel obligated to a choice, sometimes tempted (by life's "gold"), and sometimes in wisdom we are led to the choice(s) that will reap the most true and healthy (emotional/spiritual/physical/mental) outcomes.  When we choose (God's) wisdom, no one and no thing can compare with her because the fruit of wisdom is better than fine gold.

(32) “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

(33) Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 

(34) Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 

(35) For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. 

(36) But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”

~Proverbs 8:32-36

Thrice in three verses (32, 33, 34) "wisdom" beckons us to listen to her.  This is God's Word (The Bible) beckoning us to listen to God's wisdom.  His wisdom is often contrary to the world's "wisdom".  And we may sacrifice some "output" as we prioritize God's wisdom in our input.  And it's okay, because Blessed are those who listen to me...For those who find me find life (Proverbs 8:34-35).  I would rather a full life over a busy life.

Perhaps we could do/perform/achieve something (else) today, but will something else have to give because of the "extra", from obligations to our attitude?  In wisdom, we can take a deep breath and realize that it's okay.  Wisdom will provide quality outcomes that we should not trade for quantity outcomes, even if that means letting some of our berries dry up.   

It's okay.  We won't always get it all done.  Wisdom is allowing yourself the grace of some incompletions.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com