And the story begins.
Trip Down Memory Lane
I believe I have only had poison ivy one other time in my life. A friend and I were at her brother's baseball game, and we had to go to the bathroom. There were no bathrooms around. Bush and squating here we come!
Well, I have never done such a thing before, and I got a little wet. We decided to hang out for a little while before heading back. What a nice house we made! We even made a bed out of weeds that we decided would be a great place to take a little rest.
Little did we know this whole time that my friends parents were searching for us and did not know where we were. My friend got in big trouble, while my parents were off partying it up in Hawaii. I think I got off a little easier on that one. Phew!
I don't really remember having the poison ivy. I do know my friend had to get a shot because she had it so bad. Guess I learned not to make a bed out of weeds!
Back to Now
I am frequently reminded of the grossness of my poison ivy when my husband doesn't want to touch me out of fear of getting poison ivy. I have thought several times of the lepers and what their lives would be like. Walking around and yelling unclean causing people to avoid them. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about my arm falling off!
While in bed the other night, I was thinking about sin in my life and how that has got to be repulsive to God. Even more repulsive than my poison ivy is to my husband.
This verse then came to mind. Thank you, AWANA.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
Isaiah 64:6
Have you ever been beside someone who truly stinks? Not just an I have worked all day stinks, but an I don't know how to take a shower stinks? Repulsive?
Even my good things are repulsive to God. Nothing that I do, no mater how good, will find favor with God.
I don't want to be around people that repulse me. Why would God want to be around me? But for some reason, He has chosen ME to be His child. I am so thankful for God looking over my faults and taking me in as His own.
I'm sorry about the poison ivy! I hope you feel better soon and the itch goes away quick!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jamie! It is feeling much better!
DeleteGood thoughts! Thanks for sharing them. I am planning an attack on poison ivy around our place soon (we have a lot of it) and am hoping I don't get it badly in the process! I plan on wearing long sleeves and gloves and throwing everything into the wash immediately for hot wash and then jumping into the shower myself. I hope it works!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that people cannot get poison ivy from touching somebody (even oozing) that has it. I think you have to touch the actual oil from the plant.
Good luck attacking the poison ivy, Abbi! I do know that some people will get it if someone is burning the stuff. I am no expert though :) Sounds like a good plan on your part to attempt not to get poison ivy!
DeleteI have had this poison a time of two and it is not fun. Thank you for sharing your story here with us at "Tell Me a Story." Then there is the repulse of sin that we wonder if God can't touch us. Wonder of wonders he has the perfect solution to our sin problem. His arms are open and ready to receive us and he removes the smell of sin.
ReplyDeleteYep, I truly understand. Appreciate my Father. AND, amazingly, have almost never had any poison ivy or similar weeds. My husband had it more than once...twice...three times. Ain't a good thing, but IS a good thing to watch out for. Forever and ever. Need to not let it hit me and make me shudder. Thank you for sharing so clearly. Very much appreciated.
ReplyDelete