Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Poison Ivy and a Hurricane

Just a little humor regarding Ike. I was rounding up the last of the wind chimes, potted plants, and bird feeders in the backyard, I noticed poison ivy growing through the fence near a sidewalk which runs between the fence and our garage. I gingerly passed the poison ivy as I headed to the garage with my arms full and made it past the offensive weed. I thought, I must take care of you when it dries out and the heat returns. I made 2 more trips past it and then it happened, a gust of wind blew and the poison ivy smacked me in the face - right across my eye, cheek, and lips. I grabbed it (I was wearing gloves) and it smacked my right arm. I thought this cannot be good. Do we have any Burts Bees poison ivy soap, do I have any Benedryl? No we did not have any poison ivy soap, no we did not have any Benedryl. I ran inside and washed my face and arm with Joy dish washing liquid, after all it cuts grease and I determined it would take care of the oil from the ivy. Can you imagine a rash across your face and eye? I began to laugh as I thought about it, who has a poison ivy story in the midst of a hurricane making landfall in your area? I suppose that would be me.

I then began to pray earnestly that I would not break out in a rash. I changed clothes immediately and went back out to finish the yard. A couple more times that afternoon I prayed over the poison ivy. Monday a little red circle the size of a dime appeared on my arm, I thought what is this, is this ringworm, what is ringworm??? My neighbor said you have poison ivy. 1 little spot. I think had I prayed about it when I felt impressed to do so Friday night, that spot would not have appeared, but at that point I thought it was dumb to pray over poison ivy when a tree on the side of my house was creaking loudly and about to fall on the air conditioner and my neighbor's father's truck.

Another life lesson about listening to the Holy Spirit. I want to live by the Spirit and be led by the Spirit...so I should listen when He speaks to me and pray how He leads me...let the words from Phillipians speak to you today:

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

7 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Listening to that little voice that is the Holy Spirit..yes...so key to our victorious life! I hope you don't get poison ivy on your face. I laid in a patch for awhile before the ambulance got me after I hit the tree. It was like insult to injury to have this huge itchy, red scaly patch of poison ivy on my right arm! It isn't fun stuff!

Abba's Girl said...

My face is poison ivy free...

Anonymous said...

Cover EVERYTHING in prayer. He was good to answer in a mighty way that taught as well as it healed. Sounds just like my God. I wonder about all the details where we've seen God in this last week. Everyone at church seemed to have a story. Something that struck them as profound. Praising Him in the storm and after it. Love, Annette

Linda said...

Big smile on this one Annette. When I was a kid I got a case of poison ivy like you would not believe. It was in my eyes, up my nose - all over my poor swollen face. I give poison ivy a very wide berth!!

Angela Baylis said...

I started itching as I read this post! I remember too well the last 2 times I had poison ivy! I refused to pull weeds this year because I was SO afraid of the shot I had to get. I bet you didn't know what a baby I am when it comes to shots! I'm so glad you are free!
Love,
Angie xoxo

Karen said...

This also reminded me of how many times I see something in my life that probably shouldn't be there and think that I will attend to it later. Then the next thing I know, it has taken root and caused some kind of "rash". I guess no poison is harmless and we should guard against it. I'm glad your face is poison ivy free!

love,
karen

Cheryl Barker said...

Annette, I'm a believer in Joy dishwashing liquid, too, but I guess it has its limits :)