THANKFUL

Whatever tasks you are called to do, honor the Lord by doing your best. You are really ministering to the Lord when you do. —Colossians 3:23 (King Jimmy Translation)

“Be an Oak, Not a Hackberry Tree”

In the Bible, the books of Daniel and Revelation offer the reader a peek into the activities on the other side. Although they lived thousands of years apart, the prophet Daniel and the apostle John described the same scene: “Thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.”

For years, your humble Aggie scribe thought the numberless multitude depicted referred to the redeemed saints worshipping God in Heaven, with one hand raised in praise, the other holding a Frappuccino. (I made up that last part.)

I could have been wrong. Perhaps Daniel and John prophesied about the thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of acorns that drop from the oak tree in my front yard every other year.

Squirrels love this tree. In the squirrel religious community, every squirrel, unless ran over while playing dodge-car, must make a pilgrimage to the Aggie’s oak tree and pay homage to the Dome of the Golden Acorn.

When Mrs. Aggie and I planted the oak twenty-eight years ago, we never dreamed that within our lifetime this sapling would tower over the house. This massive oak is home to birds, squirrels, lizards, and creatures that come out only on Halloween. It shades nearly the entire front yard. One year, a tire-swing hung for the neighborhood kids.

However, there are drawbacks. Tree trimming occurs every year. Leaves are a problem, and keeping the gutters clean is a constant chore. But worst of all, as previously mentioned, every two years, the fruit-of-the-oak—acorns—fall like the rains that floated Noah’s Ark. During the Year of the Acorn, I daily sweep them into a trash bag that will be carried to the landfill.

One day, as I grumbled about sweeping the annoying acorns off the driveway, I realized our massive oak tree began as a small acorn. I held up the acorn between my thumb and index finger. It seemed insignificant. I never thought twice about the thousands of acorns I discarded.

My constant companion, the Holy Spirit, spoke to me. What you hold in your hand has the potential to be a massive oak, even bigger than the one in your yard. I have placed inside the acorn everything it needs to be successful.

You’re right, Lord, I said. I’m holding the future home to squirrels, birds, unwanted creatures, even a tire swing.

Just like every acorn has potential, my most cherished creation, man, has unlimited capacity for greatness, the Lord said. Yet man doesn’t see the potential he possesses. That includes you, Aggie.

The Lord reminded me I was like an acorn. Are you calling me a nut, Lord? I said, hoping he would be kind while teaching me another life lesson.

It’s a given you’re a little nutty, the Lord said. I placed within you everything you need to be great. When you partner with me, your possibilities are unlimited, he reassured me. Of course, I didn’t create everyone to be a rocket scientist, or a neurosurgeon, but I placed within everyone the potential to be everything I created them to be. The Lord sighed. Sadly, so many miss it.

One of David’s Psalms came to mind: How can my praise remain silent since you have so amazingly and extraordinarily created me. My soul rejoices in your miraculous powers working within me. (Psalm 139:14)

Your God-given destiny may be a school teacher, but the influence you have on the children has the potential to give the world another Dr. Jonas Salk or a Dr. Ben Carson. Your interest in drawing may lead you to become the next Rembrandt. Your compassionate heart may awaken the Florence Nightingale within you.

You may be called to lead a prayer group, or teach a Sunday school class. Your destiny may be toiling in obscurity to help and care for the hopeless, the addict, and the homeless, in the streets of a third-world country—or in your neighborhood. The Father may give you the boldness to stand on the street corner in a Muslim neighborhood, proclaiming Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life, or he may call you as a missionary to a remote area of Siberia.

Your destiny may simply be to encourage others and brighten their day as you are obedient in God’s leading. Or maybe just write silly stories trying to make a spiritual impact.

Please don’t overlook a most important destiny—to become the best mother and father, or grandparent, and raise healthy, well-adjusted children who have a heart for God and loves others.

Whatever God’s will for us, the Father desires to help us to fulfill our destinies for His glory. Who cares if the world views our achievements as menial? In the Father’s eyes, they are monumental. Pay no attentions to those going through life with no direction, oblivious to the potential God placed within them. Author friend, Frank Ball, states it clearly: “We’re tempted to judge success by the world’s standards. When we worry about what people will think, we can lose sight of how easily we please the Lord with our effort.”

I get what you’re saying Lord. He made his point. You created me with everything I need to become a mighty oak.

That’s right, Aggie, the Lord said. Partner with me to become that mighty oak. Then he warned: Otherwise, you could end up a Hackberry tree.

Lord God, let us seek after you, to know your heart to unleash the potential in us to be everything you created us to be.

Stay close to Jesus.

Jimmy

P.S. Mrs. Aggie and I are grateful we bought the oak and didn’t fall for that tempting special: “Buy one Hackberry Tree, get two free.”

Jimmy Eskew © 2017