Thinking back on our family zoo, I remember when the kids had two guinea pigs. To look at them they both looked great, but wow what a difference! One was gentle and tame and the kids could handle it with no problems whatsoever. Now the other one from a distance looked the same , but let's just say that it would just as soon bite you as look at you. And, that's just what it did every chance it got- bite you! Youch! They have sharp little teeth! The kids wanted to enjoy both the guinea pigs, but the one was not having anything to do with it.
This was not the only differences between the two guinea pigs. The tame one was rather quiet and the other one was very, very vocal. I don't know if you have ever heard the noise (or squeal) a guinea pig makes or not, but it is high pitched and this one was very loud! It had a message and wanted to make sure you heard it. Since I don't speak guinea pig I'm not really sure what the message was, but the message was being proclaimed often and as loud as possible.
Funny how two guinea pigs could be so different. To look at them you would not guess their differences until you got close and getting too close could be dangerous if it was the wrong guinea pig and you cherished your fingers. They were both guinea pigs, but definitely not the same- sometimes looks can be deceiving. We humans can be very different, too- loving, grouchy, easy to get along with and the opposite. Some are happy , some are sad. Some of us are searching for something to make a difference in our life. Some of us need desperately to know someone cares and loves us.
One of the things I think of when I think about these two guinea pigs is our decisions. I think of the tame, gentle guinea pig as an example of good choices we make. Good choices make our lives happier and more fulfilling. But, sometimes we goof up and we don't always make the best decisions. I think of the other guinea pig as an example of when our decisions aren't always the best, they can come back and bite us, if not right away, they will later. They can bring consequences that are hard to handle or hurt us or others. Sometimes in life we have to ask ourselves is this really what it seems?
I'm so glad there is someone who cares and is there for us. 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." He not only cares about us, He loves us. John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jeremiah 31:3 tells us that He loves us with and "everlasting love". Now that's good news!
Sometimes it's not always easy to know which decision is the right one, but God promises to help us. Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." God knows what is best for us, He knows the end from the beginning and He knows what will make us happy. As our creator and Lord of the universe, He knows us inside out and His ways are always the best for us. His ways are ways of love for us. We can feel safe knowing we put our trust in Him.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5&6
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