Tacks as a Defense

Tacks are a part of everyday life.  Well, at least the everyday I remember.  I think I see more magnets than tacks these days...

But I digress - tacks are around.

My daughter uses tacks in her bedroom to hang her pictures and posters.  Her MILLIONS of pictures and posters!  :)

Tonight she came downstairs and announced, "Hey!  I know a great defense mechanism!  I will use my bag of tacks and dump them all around me!  Nobody will want to mess with them to get to me!"

Now, I know what she was talking about - she was thinking about protecting herself in the event of some horrible break-in or attack.  (It is sad that an eighth-grader plans for things like that, but that's not a discussion for this post...)

But she said the magical phrase - the red light phrase - 'Defense Mechanism' and my mind went in a different direction.

We use defense mechanisms every day in a variety of ways.

Think of them as tacks.

When we spread tacks out around us to keep people at bay - to keep them from getting too close.  If someone attempts to venture in, we will place tacks in their path, or we will move some out of the way.

What tacks are you using?
          How do you keep people away?  Do you deny that you need them?  Act out so that they will leave you alone?  Do you stuff your feelings and put on a happy face?  Do you make yourself unavailable by not answering the phone and staying home more than you should?
          There are many ways to put out tacks and keep people away.  What are you using?

How many do you have out?
          That's the big question - how many ways do you have for keeping people from getting too close?

We were designed to be social creatures.  We were designed to be in relationship with one another.  Our relationships with one another help us build a relationship with God.

Think about those tacks and what you can do to remove a few.  Let a few more in to be close.  A nice challenge....

Wisdom

It's a new year - time to build new habits and break old ones that don't work.

I need to spend more time writing.

So here's to a new beginning.

I read something really interesting in my devotional today - the scripture is James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." NIV84  or even better, from The Message, "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it."

We often pray about things.  We often pray for guidance for certain situations. (Well, OK, I hope you are praying....)  But how often do we simply ask for wisdom - to grow in wisdom - to have wisdom - to be able to use wisdom in our daily life?

Wisdom is having a mind like God's.  I kinda like that idea.

As much as I like the idea of God helping me make decisions and choose the right path, what a fun idea to have God's mind in everything I do!  I would have help choosing an outfit or a gift or simply any shopping - I would make wise shopping choices!  I would make wise relationship decisions.  The list is endless!  With wisdom I don't have to rely on my own mind - I can use God's!  What a thought!

Even better - all I have to do is ask!  Yep!  If I ask for wisdom, He will give it to me!  :)  I think I will get on that one today.