'Folly, Foolishness, and Tumbleweeds'

💖😬 Tonight, while "chatting" with a dear friend - who is having a tooth problem, I started reminiscing upon some silly things that I've done in my past, especially - before I was actually - really - TRYING - to live to honor 'The Lord!' 😳 And, her tooth situation triggered my mind to recall a memory - way back in time - whenever I had my wisdom teeth extracted (I think that it was my sophomore year of high school).  Anyway, at that time - I didn't know that I had 'Von Wildebrand Blood Disease' (which basically means - for me - personally - with the "right" conditions - I can be - a bleeder)! 😏 Back then - the "minor surgery" (I now know that NO surgery is ever REALLY - minor) was a three day deal, so, I was in the hospital two nights and three days. Presently, if I'm correct, it is usually considered a "same day surgery" (in and out - the same day). 🤕 Anyway, the surgery was successful, except, there was a little difficulty stopping the bleeding (like whenever I had the Tonsillectomy - when I was younger)! 😗  Years later, whenever I was diagnosed with the 'VWBD,' it made sense! ⛑ I probably could have bled badly - if - I had overly exerted myself  - and/or - my precious 'Lord' had not been watching over me - even a couple days after the procedure! 🙌🏼 Well, the night of - the day of the surgery - or - the next night (I cannot remember with certainty), a few of my girlfriends, and I, carried out our plan - for them to "bust" me out of there - for a while - late at night/very early morning! 😹 Yes, we accomplished our mission! 🚗 At our set time (I forget what the exact time was ⏰) - they were outside - waiting for me - under my window, and, helped me to climb through that window, and, out of my hospital room! 😉 We left the window opened - some, so that, I could re-enter - after we had some "fun!" 😝 We went - out and about, got us some sherbet, rode around in someone's car, acted silly, and, laughed a lot, etc. 🤗 A couple hours later, they helped me get back through the window - into my hospital room, and,  even came through it, and, inside with me, tucked me into my bed - hid from a nurse, who entered the room - to check on me - right after we had entered, and then, after some shared laughter, they exited through the window. 😇 I must write that - I loved the - challenge and sneakiness - and the - rushes of adrenaline throughout that little escapade, etc.!! Hehe!! 🤣  It is a great memory - of a fun - high school night - to me, and, hopefully - for my co-conspiracists - also! 😘💗  I loved that my friends did that - for and with - me!! 😊💗 Please, note that - I'm not naming any names with this story!  I'm choosing to be the only one that is "ousted" as being really - ornery and mischievous - in this story! ☺️ And, "you "co-conspirators" (with children of your own, which is the main reason that I'm not naming names) are very welcome!" 😘🤣 You all know who you are! 😘😂 I wonder - if - I would have snuck out of my "place of safety" that night - if - I had known that - I very easily could have bled to death?! 🤔 Probably!! 😏 This answer is sad, but, truthful! 😏 I know how I WAS (and, still can be - at times -if - I don't guard against it), and, I'm quite certain that - IF - someone would have warned me about the possibility of my mouth bleeding, I would have thought that - it wouldn't happen to me - that I'd be fine, and the such! 🙃  Like most "kids" - first of all - I was - naive, ignorant, oblivious, etc. - in respect to the facts of life, dangers, ramifications, etc., and - secondly - I subconsciously assumed that - I was invincible - when in reality - God could have snatched me off of this earth - and - still can - at any given moment (as HE can - you - too)! 😗 There are umpteen other examples of scenarios - whenever God's - mercy, grace, love, providence, angels, etc. covered me - despite my immature misconceptions concerning life! ✝️ I loved life, having fun, laughing, etc. but, sometimes to a fault! 😳 I sincerely try to LET GOD keep this part of me "in check" anymore - as a result of dealing with the after effects of a diversity of irresponsible behavior, and, realizing how very merciful HE has already been with me, and, ALL of my folly - my fifty four years of life! 🙏🏼😔 As the saying goes:  "whenever I knew better...I chose to do better" (or - something to that effect)! 😘😊 This "truth" also serves as - yet another reminder that - it is vitally important that I strive to walk in "God's will" for my life, and, not what I "feel" like doing, or even - what I "think" is okay for me to do (the - thrre's no harm in it - as far as I can tell - mentality)!  NOW that I - understand and know - more - GOD expects more from me - than HE did when I was in high school, or even when I was in my 20-40's (especially being a 'Believer')! 😯 Whenever I have the peace within my - spirit and soul - that only God can give - believing that - I am in HIS "perfect will," at any given moment, it also gives me confidence that, HE shall - protect, provide for, guide, honor, bless, etc. me, and, whenever "bad" things do (according to my limited perspective) happen, I fully trust HIM!  Because, I know that - HE loves me - unconditionally (according to HIS WORD), and, is the perfect Father, I rest in the truth that HE has a perfect plan for me - based upon what HE knows - from HIS omniscience - is best!  I sincerely desire to be a wise person - learning from the past (from the good, and, the bad), to honor and glorify - my 'Lord!' ✝️ There are hundreds of endeavors in which I could choose to pursue in my life - each day, and although - sometimes - my "flesh" is tempted to DO my "own thing," instead of submitting to 'the will of God' for me, the - Spirit and Word - inside of me - remind me that - I'll only hurt myself - in the long run - if - I choose to disobey HIM (due to leaning to my own understanding - instead of HIS WORD) (Proverbs 3:5+6), and, end up being - a castaway - or - "tumbleweed" (so to speak) (1 Corinthians 9:27)! 😳 Truths of HIS WORD - in which I have hidden in my heart, also remind me that - anyone can live a - selfish/self-centered - life, and that, it may "seem" like I'm losing - or - way behind - some people - in this world - whenever - in actuality - I am "winning" - according to God's estimation - according to the TRUTH that I stand on - found in the Bible! 😔🙏🏼🙌🏼 I do not want God to categorize me with the FOOLS (Psalm 107:17)!  I used to love folly, and, there's a part of me (my "flesh") that still does, but, the WORD says that those who love folly are FOOLS, and, shall be destroyed by their folly, therefore, for HIS honor - I resist my "flesh," and, old tendency - of sometimes enjoying - foolishness - by praying - frequently, over and over again - submitting to HIS - ways and will, casting my cares upon HIM, standing on HIS WORD, and, attempting to consistently "walk in the Spirit," etc.! 😌🙏🏼 (Proverbs 1:7, 13:20)! 🙏🏼 I'm - thankful and grateful - that - I can use the - folly and foolishness - of my past - from which - to glean - lessons that - shall help me live a wiser life - presently, and, in the future - for the - glory and honor - of - my wonderful, 'Lord, and Savior - Jesus Christ!!' 🙌🏼🙏🏼📖✝️💜 ☕️☕️☕️ Until next time...😊💗👋🏼