My Conversation with a Hedge - Crosswalk the Devotional - May 16

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( My Conversation with a Hedge by Shawn McEvoy He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. - [Proverbs 15:32]( Some years during summer, my wife and kids leave me for two-to-three weeks to visit all of her relatives in Texas while I stay home and work. For the first day or two that they're gone, I enjoy my freedom from some of my responsibilities. After that, though, I tend to go a little crazy. I find myself wandering around the house, or doing "improvement" projects I have no business tackling. Making up song lyrics. Or having conversations with inanimate objects. A couple years ago, in the middle of their trip, I was trimming the bushes beneath our front windows. The three on the right side of the stoop grow more uniformly than the three on the left. On the left, the one closest to the stairs is healthiest, while the other two, thanks to heavier afternoon shade, don't do as well. Oh, it's hard to tell, because I keep them pruned so that they "grow together" in the middle and stay squared off on the tops and corners. But obviously, the two weaker bushes suffer the pruning less frequently, because I let them grow out to fill in the gaps. As I was working, their healthier sibling, I imagined, began to speak to me. Or to whine is more like it... Hey! What gives? Nothing, my good man. Just time for your monthly trimming. But why? I'm not doing anything wrong. Just sitting here minding my own business. Doing good, doing what I'm supposed to do. And here you come... Well, just sit still, please. Trust me, I have a purpose here. Really? Well forgive me for asking, but why doesn't that purpose seem to apply to my lazy, stunted brethren here? All this time and barely a scratch. Maybe a nip, a cut. Nothing lost, no pain. You're not happy with how you look? Where you're situated? I'm fine. But that's just it. I don't deserve this cutting and trimming. [CONTINUE READING →]( You May Also Like: [10 Things You Need to Know about the Unforgivable Sin]( Dr. David Jeremiah “One of the questions that often comes up is, ‘Can I commit a sin that God cannot forgive?’. According to Jesus, there is one that can't be forgiven—not in this age or the age to come. Here are 10 things you should know about the "unpardonable sin." [CONTINUE READING →]( [Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'?]( Dr. Roger Barrier If our salvation is eternally secure, why does the Bible warn so strongly against apostasy? [CONTINUE READING →]( Bible Trivia Question of the Day What three men does God use as an example of 'righteousness' in the book of Ezekiel? A. Samson, Saul and Lemuel B. Noah, Daniel and Job C. Jesse, Jacob and Esau D. Joseph, Lot and Samuel [ANSWER THE QUESTION →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2021 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](