When All Else Fails

Summer, 1970 something


My Grandpa, my mother,my brother,
Michael & I at Grandpa's house.

Summer fun at my home always included a week long visit from my Grandpa. He loved to play & I loved to play with him, especially croquet. Each visit he would bring us little gifts. One I recall was a “to go” cup, a collapsible cup with a container for your vitamins! I don’t think the marketer had grandkids in mind when he designed those cups, but I cherished that cup as if it were fine china. One of the funniest gifts he brought was one he brought for my Dad. It was a little round piece of wood with a nut attached and the words “When all else fails, follow instructions.” My Dad and my Grandpa were two of the most different men you could find and this little gift was a humorous reminder of one of their difference.

I’ve thought of that little phrase many times in my life & chuckled. Usually when I had ignored the instructions and bullied my way through a task only to either have it fall apart or see that I had made it more difficult than necessary. Wonder where I got that talent!


Today
 I love reading Paul’s letters to Timothy. Timothy, like me, was a church kid. He had been taught the scripture since childhood. Maybe I just enjoy the fact that the he, too needed to be reminded of all that he had learned! In his second letter Paul reminds Timothy that he has been given all the instructions he needs to prepare and equip him for good works. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. “ II Timothy 3:16 and 17 (NLT)

Jesus concluded his sermon on the mount with this , “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

I remember a Sunday School song that sounded a lot like that. I don’t want to be the fool whose house goes splat.

My Grandpa experienced torrents coming against him, troubles rising all around him and beating on his house in his lifetime. He once shared with my mother how during one of those times in his life, he had been assured by God that if he would take care of the people He put in his path, He would take care of his children who were at that time outside of his care. When my grandpa died, the service was held in a native American church in Oklahoma City. One person after another told of how Bro. Perry had ministered to them. While we mourned the loss of a dad and grandpa, the congregation celebrated the life of a saint. Some may have called my grandpa foolish at times. He even liked to call himself, peculiar. ( I suspect that some who witnessed the pink and white checked roof he once put on a house might have agreed with him!) I think he was wise. He listened and followed instructions and God used his life to minister to many. I don’t want you to get the wrong impression, my grandpa was not a renown speaker or a famous missionary to the outer ends of the earth. He was a school janitor who turned his garage into a church and ministered to his neighborhood. And those 5 children of his, all came to be believers with 3 of them following his example by serving as missionaries, teachers and pastors.

If you are feeling like everything around is you failing or the storms of life are about to take you down, re-read His instructions, remind yourself of things you know to be true. When you follow His instructions, you will not collapse! And take heart in knowing, that even when you are foolish, you can return to the instructions that will put your feet back on the solid rock.

Thanks for listening.
See you next Sunday,

Ronda


“Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.” Proverbs 4:13 NLT

Here a few of my favorite, practical instructions for living from Proverbs whose whole purpose is to teach us to live disciplined and successful lives and to help us do what is right, fair and just. (Proverbs 1:3 NLT)

“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything” (13:3 NLT)
“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” (10:19 NLT)
“Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; haste makes mistakes.” (19:2 NLT)
“… don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.” (3:21 NLT)
“Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise” (13:10 NLT)

“Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren …” (13:22 NLT)
Thank you, Grandpa, for an inheritance that only increase in value with time!

My Grandpa
William Trafford Perry