Grandma said this to some of my nieces on Sunday afternoon and I instantly grabbed my phone to make a note of it because I knew it was a perfect devotional topic. She told them this after listening to a conversation they were having about a boy because she wanted them to know that who or what is meant for them will definitely be. See, we spend so much time getting caught up in mess that we miss out on the opportunities of making memories or we lie so much that we don’t have time to leave a legacy but if you can’t measure who or what’s in front of you then you shouldn’t be allowing them or it to consume your world. I know it’s easier said than done but as I stood by my granddaddy’s bedside most of last night, I was sad at the frail body that now lies there, yet my spirit is rejoicing for all the good and bad times I’ve shared with him. Yes, even the bad because I wouldn’t take a dollar for the journey we’ve shared because it was ours to take and our memories and mistakes to make. Oh, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give to get my granddaddy off his bed of affliction but it’s out of my hands. I’m so use to the strong black man that was the head of his household, who helped raise his 10 children, then his grandchildren and even some great grandchildren. A man who was known at our high school because he was a willing worker, no matter when or what they called him for. A man who didn’t mind giving out whoopings when you got out of line (ask any of those who grew up on Clovia Lane/Cloverdale) and a man who never sidestepped the truth, who always told you like it was regardless if it hurt your feelings and one who had your best interest at heart even though at the time it didn’t seem like it! I cherish the memories that I have with me simply because I can miss because I can measure.
We’ve got to stop worrying over mess and messy people, hurting each other, damming, condemning and fighting each other because time is winding down to get it right. More young folks are dying with old folk’s diseases, more women are being killed at the hands of those who are supposed to love them; men are killing each other over jealousy or because they’d rather rob than work and babies are dying because we are too selfish to take care of them like the bible says we should! Stop living like you’re better than me because we are all just saved sinners who still sin! Stop waiting for folks to encourage you to do well, do it for yourself! Stop living like you got all the time in the world to correct what you’ve done wrong, do it now because the next hour isn’t promised! Cherish the life you have now and stop wanting for things that aren’t yours. If folks have left, let them go; they weren’t yours to begin with. If the job let you go, press on; it wasn’t yours to begin with. If the doctors have given up, push on; it wasn’t your battle to fight anyway. You can’t miss what you can’t measure so get off your pity box and pray because God said He’ll handle your problems if you’d just give them to him! If they can’t measure up, then you shouldn’t be measuring them. You are worthy because you are God’s. You are gifted because you are God’s and if you don’t value yourself then you can’t expect anyone else too. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people–none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” You aren’t perfect which means you will make mistakes but learn from them. You don’t have to chase a blessing because what’s yours is yours. Stop accepting everything and simply falling for anything. Just because you have children that doesn’t mean you have to buy what dude is selling when he smiles in your face, be patient God has your blessing coming so don’t block your view with mess. Just because your credit isn’t A1 it doesn’t mean you have to take the first offer the dealership or mortgage company gives you, be still and allow God to negotiate on your behalf. And just because you’ve had sickness for most of your life, don’t allow the doctors to treat you with half of what they should be because you’re still living which means God isn’t ready for you. Don’t give up on yourself because folks have given up on you, it was simply their mistake on missing a gem!
So stop focusing so much time on storing up junk in this world that you can’t take with you but store up treasures for your Heavenly home. Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” See, when you tarry over material things then you’re material minded which takes your eyes off your purpose but when you store up Heavenly things, your mind is steadfast on reaching Heaven. Now, when I say treasures I mean things like praying, praising, helping others, loving and giving because these things are like the materials you need to build your home here but you’re simply building your mansion there. When you use God’s measuring cup He’s making sure misery don’t outweigh the miracles he has for you through his message because in His message He’s ministering to your mind which allows you to be mindful of miserable, mischievous mockers who block your ministry by meddling when you’re meditating or being malicious when they should be merry so if they don’t measure up to your magnificence then don’t measure down to their mess!
Lakisha, the Author 