Tractor Panic
A sign in my kitchen reads, “A day in the country is worth a month in town.” Most of my girlfriends prefer the mall, but put me knee deep in a luscious green pasture or hiking through the woods. This weekend I ventured out to my parent’s farm and got to drive my daddy’s new tractor. I realize most normal women prefer driving a nice BMW or Mercedes, but throw me on a tractor and I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.
I listened carefully to the driving instructions and saddled up. I bumped across the front field thinking Kenny Chesney may think his tractor is, well, I’ll let you fill in the words, but he ain’t got nothin’ on me. As I bounced along singing and soaking in the country air, I saw an animal dart across the field. I was so excited. I lost focus of my new ride as I searched through the tall grass.
Suddenly, I realized I better stop this tractor or I'm going to hit the cabin. I tried to remember the stopping directions. As I slid the gear shift into neutral I felt the tractor pick up speed. I was going downhill. Why wasn’t it stopping? My dad was following me in the truck. I hollered back at him.
“How do I stop?” He said something. I couldn’t hear him. The tractor picked up more speed.
“How do I stop?” I yelled more frantically. He responded but I still couldn’t hear.
“I’m trying to stop. What do I do?” I screamed.
He smiled and calmly replied, “Put on the break.”
Isn’t life like that? We roll along, enjoying life and then boom, something throws us for a loop, we get distracted, and forget how to put on the break. It’s like eating chips at a Mexican food restaurant. You start eating and can't stop.
Have you ever been shopping, knowing you are spending way too much money, but get so distracted by the purchase, you forget to stop? What about yelling at your kids? You know you should talk calmly, but you loose control and let ‘er fly. What about spending time on facebook or the computer? You know it’s an addiction that takes you away from your family and responsibilities, but what is another hour going to hurt? What about pornography? You know it’s killing your mind and relationships, but you can’t stop.
Do you ever feel like yelling at someone, “How do I stop?” One of the hardest things to conquer in life is “self-control.” Self-control is simply stopping when you know you’ve crossed the line. You know when you’ve gone too far, because you feel it in your heart and hear it in your head. When you feel it and hear it, get tough. Put on the breaks & come to a complete stop.
If it’s debt, cut up your credit card. Pay cash only.
If it’s eating, throw away the sodas and sweets. Eat veggies and drink water.
If it’s porn, get rid of the laptop, magazines, or channels. Only use the TV/computer when someone is in the room with you.
If it’s anger, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Speak calmly.
Self-control is a choice. What is God commanding you to stop? Are you willing to put on the breaks? If so, slam on the breaks and put that tractor in park.
I listened carefully to the driving instructions and saddled up. I bumped across the front field thinking Kenny Chesney may think his tractor is, well, I’ll let you fill in the words, but he ain’t got nothin’ on me. As I bounced along singing and soaking in the country air, I saw an animal dart across the field. I was so excited. I lost focus of my new ride as I searched through the tall grass.
Suddenly, I realized I better stop this tractor or I'm going to hit the cabin. I tried to remember the stopping directions. As I slid the gear shift into neutral I felt the tractor pick up speed. I was going downhill. Why wasn’t it stopping? My dad was following me in the truck. I hollered back at him.
“How do I stop?” He said something. I couldn’t hear him. The tractor picked up more speed.
“How do I stop?” I yelled more frantically. He responded but I still couldn’t hear.
“I’m trying to stop. What do I do?” I screamed.
He smiled and calmly replied, “Put on the break.”
Isn’t life like that? We roll along, enjoying life and then boom, something throws us for a loop, we get distracted, and forget how to put on the break. It’s like eating chips at a Mexican food restaurant. You start eating and can't stop.
Have you ever been shopping, knowing you are spending way too much money, but get so distracted by the purchase, you forget to stop? What about yelling at your kids? You know you should talk calmly, but you loose control and let ‘er fly. What about spending time on facebook or the computer? You know it’s an addiction that takes you away from your family and responsibilities, but what is another hour going to hurt? What about pornography? You know it’s killing your mind and relationships, but you can’t stop.
Do you ever feel like yelling at someone, “How do I stop?” One of the hardest things to conquer in life is “self-control.” Self-control is simply stopping when you know you’ve crossed the line. You know when you’ve gone too far, because you feel it in your heart and hear it in your head. When you feel it and hear it, get tough. Put on the breaks & come to a complete stop.
If it’s debt, cut up your credit card. Pay cash only.
If it’s eating, throw away the sodas and sweets. Eat veggies and drink water.
If it’s porn, get rid of the laptop, magazines, or channels. Only use the TV/computer when someone is in the room with you.
If it’s anger, put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Speak calmly.
Self-control is a choice. What is God commanding you to stop? Are you willing to put on the breaks? If so, slam on the breaks and put that tractor in park.
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
posted by Stephanie Chase @ 9:01 PM
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