June 12, 2020

Rerun of Daily Devotional July 12, 2017

This is my first day back after spending two weeks traveling through New Mexico and Colorado in our travel trailer.  We had a wonderful time.

Shannon and I began by going to Santa Fe so that I could eat everything in sight.  I did.

The problem is that whenever we go to Santa Fe, I always get confused as to whether the green or red chili is hottest.

The first night there, I remembered that the red chili was hot and the green chili was mild.  So I ordered green chili on my enchiladas.  Shannon told me she thought I had ordered the hot chili but I explained that she was a mere woman and couldn’t be expected to remember as much as I could.   I was very proud of myself for putting her in her place.

When the waitress brought the food to our table, I discovered I may have made a mistake.

Shannon just sat there and smiled as I attempted to eat my food that was covered in green fire.

First I broke out into a sweat.  Then my hair began to fall out.  I saw colors that I had never seen before.  My tongue felt like lava sandpaper and I started crying.

All this time, Shannon kept saying, “Are you sure the green chili is the cooler one?”  Because I did not want to admit I had made a mistake, I assured her the green chili was mild and had a wonderful taste.

But by this time, the waitress was complaining about having to continually refill my ice tea.  The little girl at the next table said, “Mommy, look at the man crying.”  And a paramedic rushed in to ask if my face was always that shade of purple.  I told him it was.

All of this pain could have been avoided if I had been willing to admit that Shannon was right and I was wrong.  But I wasn’t willing to go there.

Consequently, I burned all the taste buds off my tongue and developed a strange twitch.

Do you ever let your pride get in the way of admitting you have made a mistake?  If you are like me, then you need to heed the warning of the wisest person to ever walk the earth.  King Solomon said, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Proverbs 16:18)

That night, as I ate burning coals, I could have avoided a lot of pain if I had been willing to listen to Solomon’s advice.  Instead I chose to make my life more difficult that it had to be.  This is not God’s way.

Those who follow Jesus Christ must be humble enough to admit that there are times when we make mistakes.  Because to never admit to fault is to give into arrogance, which is the root of all sin.

So choose to be humble and admit when you have made a mistake.  Your life will be much easier, and if it comes to red and green chili, you may avoid a very embarrassing moment in a restaurant.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please help me to walk humbly through this life.  Give me the wisdom to know right from wrong, the courage to follow your path, and the humility to rely on you rather than myself.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

I still think the green chili is the milder one.  The restaurant got it wrong.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins