Day 31: Parable of the Lost Turtle

When I was four I had a pet turtle that I enjoyed tending to each day. I enjoyed checking on him (he usually was doing about the same), playing with him (even though he didn’t do much), and feeding him (not much there either). He lived in a plastic container in my bedroom, making him a big part of my day. Then, that awful day came that I remember so well...even after almost 40 years. I looked in the container and saw my turtle was gone! I looked all around the room. I called for my family’s help. Each searched and each was interrogated to see who had seen him last. I cried, but the turtle was never found. My mother comforted me by teaching me a valuable lesson: “Don’t worry about it, pray about it.” And so each day and night we did. I suppose the verse she read to me would have been from Paul:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

My father taught the teenage boys' Bible class. He had asked one of the high school boys who fished a lot to keep his eyes open for a little turtle. One Sunday evening that young man asked me to meet him at his car. He gave me two turtles just like the one I had! I was so excited! I still get excited thinking about how God gives to us abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! I thanked God over and over.

I suppose an atheist would say, "Your earthly father provided those turtles, not God." But the Heavenly Father created the turtles, the stream they lived in, and the Bible that shaped that young man's heart that caused him to care about a little boy. It was God who formed a woman who taught her young son how to pray, and it was God who helped a little boy not worry, but to pray. There are many ways God answers prayers! And many of the answers He starts working on before we even have the need to ask!

...for your Father what you need before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)

I am thankful for gift of prayer that relieves tons of worry.

By the way, I am also thankful for the gift of forgiveness. My sister and I are as close as can be, even though ten years later she confessed to the crime of freeing the lost turtle!

Written by David Shannon, preacher at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Comments:

I am guessing that a lot of things look differently to the atheist. I love how we're reminded that God will guard our hearts and minds.

PS - my son wants to know if you still have the turtles.

TS

# posted by

Anonymous : December 14, 2010 at 6:41 PM

No, and strangely as I was writing the article I was trying to remember what I did with the other two turtles - and I can't remember. I suppose I let them go in a creek sometime.

Yes, I too like the "guard our hearts and minds." When we struggle it is because our mind is struggling. How wonderful is it to think Christ helps guard our mind if we have a life and prayers that are depending on Him?

# posted by

David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:29 AM

# posted by

David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:29 AM



Day 31: Parable of the Lost Turtle When I was four I had a pet turtle that I enjoyed tending to each day. I enjoyed checking on him (he usually was doing about the same), playing with him (even though he didn’t do much), and feeding him (not much there either). He lived in a plastic container in my bedroom, making him a big part of my day. Then, that awful day came that I remember so well...even after almost 40 years. I looked in the container and saw my turtle was gone! I looked all around the room. I called for my family’s help. Each searched and each was interrogated to see who had seen him last. I cried, but the turtle was never found. My mother comforted me by teaching me a valuable lesson: “Don’t worry about it, pray about it.” And so each day and night we did. I suppose the verse she read to me would have been from Paul: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) My father taught the teenage boys' Bible class. He had asked one of the high school boys who fished a lot to keep his eyes open for a little turtle. One Sunday evening that young man asked me to meet him at his car. He gave me two turtles just like the one I had! I was so excited! I still get excited thinking about how God gives to us abundantly above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! I thanked God over and over. I suppose an atheist would say, "Your earthly father provided those turtles, not God." But the Heavenly Father created the turtles, the stream they lived in, and the Bible that shaped that young man's heart that caused him to care about a little boy. It was God who formed a woman who taught her young son how to pray, and it was God who helped a little boy not worry, but to pray. There are many ways God answers prayers! And many of the answers He starts working on before we even have the need to ask! ...for your Father what you need before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8) I am thankful for gift of prayer that relieves tons of worry. By the way, I am also thankful for the gift of forgiveness. My sister and I are as close as can be, even though ten years later she confessed to the crime of freeing the lost turtle! Written by David Shannon, preacher at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Comments: I am guessing that a lot of things look differently to the atheist. I love how we're reminded that God will guard our hearts and minds. PS - my son wants to know if you still have the turtles. TS # posted by Anonymous : December 14, 2010 at 6:41 PM No, and strangely as I was writing the article I was trying to remember what I did with the other two turtles - and I can't remember. I suppose I let them go in a creek sometime. Yes, I too like the "guard our hearts and minds." When we struggle it is because our mind is struggling. How wonderful is it to think Christ helps guard our mind if we have a life and prayers that are depending on Him? # posted by David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:29 AM No, and strangely as I was writing the article I was trying to remember what I did with the other two turtles - and I can't remember. I suppose I let them go in a creek sometime. Yes, I too like the "guard our hearts and minds." When we struggle it is because our mind is struggling. How wonderful is it to think Christ helps guard our mind if we have a life and prayers that are depending on Him? # posted by David R. Shannon : December 17, 2010 at 6:29 AM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 31: Parable of the Lost Turtle

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