With all the rain the past month, and my constantly being on the go, my yard work has suffered greatly. I knew that Saturday I would be bringing two very special little 8 year-old girls home with me after a church event. Saturday afternoon I started the push mower to ensure the grass was cut and ready for them to play. As I was mowing near the tire swing, all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my hand. When I realized what it was? That’s when I saw them – wasps swarming all around the tire swing. Obviously they had built a nest inside the tire. In all the time I’ve lived here, I’ve never had them do that before. But? In summers past, I spent a lot more time mowing and tending to the yard. The tire swing had seen more use. As my hand started to swell and the pain got sharper, the first thought that came to my mind was “I’m so thankful it was me that got stung instead of the girls. Thank you Jesus for letting me be the one to take the pain so the girls didn’t have to.” I then readily found the can of wasp & hornet spray and removed all traces of any wasps from the tire swing. It was once again safe for the girls to be carefree as they laughed and played.

And then? That’s when Jesus spoke to my heart – like he always does – in the every day. He said “That’s why I died on the cross – because I love you like you love those little girls. You’re my child. I felt the same way about you! I took the pain for you on the cross so that you may have life. So your heart can be full of joy – the same joy those sweet innocent little girls will have as they swing and laugh.. a life free from the sting of sin.” The analogy continued … “That tire swing is like our hearts. If we don’t tend to, and guard our hearts? sin can creep in and start to build a hidden nest. The bitterness and fear that comes from that hidden sin will often sting those who get to close to us. We need to be sure we are always tending to, and guarding our hearts so we continue to walk in peace, love and joy.

Jesus didn’t just take the pain and suffering for me – he did it for ALL of us. How’s your heart? Repentance & Prayer – it’s as effective and powerful as wasp & hornet spray!

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isiah 53:5