I opened the front door just in time to see the UPS man getting into his truck and reached for the package he’d left. I was expecting a large box; but there was a small padded envelope leaning against the brick. As I looked at the name that it was addressed to, I realized it was not my package – it belonged to a Debra Carroll. Now Carroll was my mother’s maiden name. By the time that I’d called out “This is not my package”, the UPS man was headed back down our driveway carrying a large box and saying, “I left the wrong package!” I exchanged the padded envelope he’d left, for my large box and carried it to the kitchen thinking of the mix-up yesterday when I went to the pharmacy, right after a doctor’s visit.
A familiar face behind the cash register asked for my name and pulled a prescription bag out and rang up the receipt that was attached and said, “That will be $37.00.” A bit surprised, I asked if she had my insurance card because as I left the doctors office, his nurse told me the price of the prescription was $22.00 at my pharmacy. The cash register attendant took my insurance card and went back to another familiar face and for a few minutes they talked and typed on the computer. The first lady brought my card and prescription back and said, “No, with insurance, it is $37.00.” I asked if I could see the bag and when I looked – it was for Donna Osborne! It was not even my prescription! I told her so and just marveled that I was almost sent home with a prescription that wasn’t mine. My mother-in-loves name is Dona Osburn. Similar name; but, not me.
My next thought was I wanted to share my thoughts with my friend and father figure. Then the thought crossed my mind that there were 3 parables, I thought, “Well,that’s only two parables.” So I was wondering what would happen next in this mishap story. It was then that I thought of how almost a week ago, a piece of important looking mail arrived for someone who use to live here. I texted a relative to let her know it was here. On Monday, another piece of mail arrived from the same company, so I called the relative and we talked. I sent her a picture of both pieces of mail and she asked me to hold them for her to pick up.
So, there were now three parables.
3 separate times
3 various attempts
3 different agencies either:
Deposited the wrong mail in my mail box
Delivered someone else’s material goods to my door
Discharged me with the wrong prescription
None of those items were mine.
There is an enemy out there that is trying every avenue he can to:
Deposit the wrong thoughts to my mind – curb
Deliver or drop off someone else’s stuff in my life – at the door
Discharge prescriptions for fixing problems in my reality – my personal self
Isn’t that just like the enemy to first bring trouble in our lives in an orderly fashion?
The curb. Where trash needs to say.
The front door. He comes closer and just because the bell rings, doesn’t mean it is for us.
My person. He’s sneaky, if we don’t answer the mail or doorbell, the enemy will try to hand it to us. And make us pay for it.
There is even a size progression:
A piece of mail
A padded envelope
A white pharmacy bag
In all three instances, I had a response:
This is not mine.
Take it back.
I want what is mine!
Someone else’s mail is not going to do me any good. I want messages of Life and Truth written or spoken to, or over me, by GOD, His Word, or His messengers. I must be aware and alert to not opening something that is delivered to me, because on close inspection, it may not be meant for me… You may have been given some *thing* and, just because you may have been given it, it may not be for you. We can, through the Grace in Christ, find kindness and consideration to release what is not ours and, if needed, even alert others that we have some *thing* that has their name on it.
Announcing that a package that was delivered to me that isn’t mine, is a good thing. I don’t want what belongs to someone else. But what if I’d have kept the padded envelope that wasn’t mine? The package that I was expecting, and was indeed mine, was 10 times bigger than the one that was left for me. GOD has not only what I need, HE is a GOD of “So Much More.”
Questioning and double checking what I am given to make sure it is what was ordered, and what I was expecting and needing, is a good practice. Taking home what is intended for someone else, won’t help me or my situation. We all have unique and individual issues. GOD has the exact balm for our situations, including our hurting hearts. I don’t need what has been prescribed to someone else. And furthermore, I don’t want what has been prescribed for someone else. I must be alert and aware even when my name is called. Who is calling my name? What are the telling me? When I do have a check in my Spirit, I must pause and ask questions. I don’t want to accept something with herd mentality, I want what GOD has individually for me.
The 3 parables include:
An Event: I acknowledge that some thing is not mine.
A Decision: I don’t want what is not mine.
An Outcome: I want everything HE has to give.
Each situation took a combination of the following to resolve:
Thoughts
Words
Action
Sometimes fear keeps us from:
Discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. It may be in our mailbox and not be ours.
Answering when some thing calls. It may have been delivered to our front door and not be for us.
Questioning or double checking when some thing does not seem right. It may have been handed to me; but it is not mine.
May boldness overtake fear,
And, may love persuade us to hear
A still small voice,
That says, we have a choice
To be wise and discerning
Even when all is in upheaval and churning.
Be bold.
Fear may say:
Don’t speak out.
Don’t do anything.
Just take what you’ve been given.
But the answering or taking the immediate, may not be fully living.
I want abundant life.
I do not desire to have strife.
But, I must not settle, sit, or stare,
I must be alert, and fully aware.
I will speak, stand, and shout:
Fear, let me out!
Be alert and aware.
I will speak and act, because I care.
I must, we must, be alert and aware.