The Green

 "He makes me lie down in green pastures."

 

Y'all, this morning I read Psalm 23 ...

This section of the verse got me so tickled for a minute.

I never thought of it this way before.

When we look upon a green pasture, it is a beautiful sight to behold,

and what a seemingly beautiful place to lie down ...

"If" it has no cows or animals grazing on it.

I had the blessed opportunity to spend many days on

my grandparent's green pasture.

The green pasture had cows grazing on it ... and you know what they leave "behind"!

I remember as a kid walking in that green pasture,

and we'd always have to walk around what my grandmother referred to as "cow poo."

 

And there was so much of it.
It's over here ...



 (the girls at my grandparent's pasture)


 It's over there ...

 

You couldn't let down your guard even in that  beautiful green pasture.

Once, there was ice on the ground in winter ...

we made sleds out of cardboard boxes ...

and when I slid down, my gloved hand landed right in cow poo.

The same is true for life ...

those green pastures we lie down in ...

there is always a little cow poo nearby...

something that seems a little unpleasant.

But remember the unpleasant is what promotes growth and maturity

and keeps that pasture green.

The bad is always there ...

we can't prevent it ...

but the sight of it – in that green pasture, following after God –

should keep us on our guard,

allow us to grow in our faith,

 keep us mindful where we lie down and where we step,

... in other words, keep us on the green.

 

Following after God will keep you on the green.

 

He makes me lie down in "green" ...

 

Atlanta, Texas