Wood, Hay, and Stubble

This is a picture taken this past December (2008) of a home swept away by Hurricane Katrina. Thankfully, my family, my childhood home, and my extended family's homes were safe , but, we all learned valuable lessons about wood, hay, and stubble.

"Wood, Hay, and Stubble" the title of one of the many conversations that I have with my wonderful father-in-law that usually begins or ends with him saying, "This is not a lecture."

This is a picture of my huge, HUGE gas logs. I think they were the biggest they made in 1971. I am talking about things that burn in this post. As you can see from this photo--these do not burn. I am going to go ahead and classify my HUGE gas logs as "wood, hay, and stubble"(triple violation) as they are USELESS, dangerous ,and UGLY!

What he is calling "wood, hay, and stubble" are things that burn.The things that you think or do that do not really matter...Things that take up your time, energy, resources, but aren't eternal...Things that add up and cause you to be and feel so busy, that you don't have time for the things that matter. My father-in-law would say the wood, hay, and stubble tends to "choke-out" the important things. Because wood, hay, and stubble demand your attention NOW, you put off the important things. Because wood, hay, and stubble promise that if you just take a few more minutes concentrating on them, you will be able to focus better on more important things/produce the desired result/have them out of the way. Actually, now that I think about it, wood, hay, and stubble promises a whole host of things. But, the promises burn right along with the wood, the hay, and the stubble.


This is a picture of the playhouse that Al built. Certainly, I am not suggesting that we burn the playhouse down, however, it is wood, and I realized earlier that I have never put these pictures up!

When he begins his "wood, hay and stubble lecture," my father-in-law is usually insightfully referencing something that I have said "Yes" to doing that I later have regretted. The "good" things that take up my time and take the place of the BEST things.

Moving the playhouse out of the shop, and to it's current location. Did I mention that Al built this out of lumber that he milled himself out of a log he bought from a timber yard? I probably didn't because that would be bragging on my husband, and his multi-talented & genius self, and that would definitely be wood, hay, and stubble!

(Do as I say, not as I do...just kidding)

Here are some thoughts, and things I am learning about wood, hay, and stubble.

I have been deeply encouraged by Shelli's New years list, and have referenced it time and again.

After Seleta's post about purpose and simplicity, she and I exchanged a series of encouraging emails. At the conclusion of these, I was encouraged to try to notice my kiddos throughout the day, REALLY learn where they are at right now, and not just pacify them with more wood, hay, and stubble.

My friend Hope, who lost a child this summer, has been a wealth of encouragement for me on this. She has taught me so much about living life, raising these kiddies, and just BEING right now.

I have a host of real life friends from whom I have learned a ton over the past few weeks. My friend that encouraged me to pray diligently for forty days that I might gain deeper insight into the death and Resurrection of the Savior. My friend that reminded me that quality time is the most important time I can give my children. And, my friend that has been so deeply moved to encourage my family over these last few weeks, that she has left her comfort zone offering advise and scripture in a host of encouraging emails and phone calls.

If I knew how to create one of those "Best of the Week" pages, I totally would include some cool picture to represent these things in a visually pleasing manner. These are the things that I hope will take the place of some of my wood, hay, and stubble.

Of course, I have lots of things that I want to take the place of the wood, hay and stubble. These are just in my "Best of the Week" category.

On Sunday, my pastor said something at the end of his sermon that reminded me of the truths of Wood, Hay, and Stubble. He said, "Are you looking around you, are you looking to other's examples to follow and not the Lord?" I do this all of the time without even realizing it, for the most part. I think about how organized I used to be before I had children, and this is what my playroom looks like. Isn't that looking around me instead of looking to Him?

Just Kidding, this isn't my playroom, just a corner of it. I am having to use filed pictures and not current photos as a result of the fact that the playroom is so messy, I can't find the camera cord!!!!

Or, I think about the friends that I have who's jobs have been unaffected by pro ration/the recession. (YIKES!) I won' t even begin to list the ongoing projects that I am doing or re-doing in my mind, and in real life! These are just a few of the million thoughts that keep my mind busy, and off of the things that matter. Any thoughts on this?