Thursday, May 14, 2009

Chain Saws and Worries

We used to have a big couch covered with a slippery brown cover, setting inside our living room windows. John, David and I used to spend a lot of time on it playing church or looking at story books. It also provided an excellent view of the barnyard if we knelt on it to look out the windows.
One snowy morning a pick-up pulling a cattle trailer pulled into the driveway and a man got out and came to the door. Mom went to see what he wanted and then came into the living room and told us to play nicely while she goes out to the barn to help him get our fattened steer loaded.
We quickly scrambled onto the couch and watched out the window as Mom walked out to the barn and the man backed his trailer down behind the barn and out of sight of the house. Before long Mom and the man appeared as they walked to the shop, we were trying to discern what they could want in there when they appeared again. This time the man was carrying one of Daddy's chain saws. They walked back to the barn and disappeared behind it. And then we heard the chain saw.
John and David were contentedly watching out the window for the next time Mom appears when I announced with all my six year old authority that "I think that man is cutting Mom's legs off." and then promptly started crying.
John and David looked at me with wide eyed consternation. The thought of Mom having her legs cut off was too overwhelming and they joined me in crying. Howling would describe it better.
We forgot all about watching out the window, as we sat on the floor holding each other and crying at the top of our lungs at the dreadful thing that was happening to Mom when all of a sudden she was standing in front of us demanding to know what is wrong.
Her legs appeared to be fine and I started to feel sheepish. John had no such problem though and announced that I said the man was cutting her legs off.
She seemed flabbergasted with me and explained that there had been a tree branch in the way that had to be cut so the trailer could be backed up to the barn door.

I think of this episode at times when I am tempted to worry about things. It is a perfect reminder how silly it is to waste time thinking of all the dreadful things that might happen.

19 comments:

  1. Your story is a little funny AND sad.

    I am a worrier. Even when I give something over to God, my mind dwells on things. Thanks for the reminder.

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  2. Incredible how...as a child...your imagination can absolutely go on a gallop. I loved your post!

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  3. This sounds like something my sister and I would have done. We were always letting our imaginations run away with us!

    Thanks for another terrific memory! These are so fun to read!

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  4. Your experience made excellent reading. I'm so pleased your mother's legs remained unharmed.

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  5. Such a life lesson....a good one! Cute story, too!
    XOXO
    Joni

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  6. That is so funny...but so true. Our mind can take us in directions that it shouldn't and remembering to pray and not worry is something that takes a lot of practice!

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  7. lol lol this made me smile!!

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  8. What a lesson to learn ... I'm still learning not to worry about what I can't control :o)

    Blessings to you and thanks for your comment on my blog!

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  9. Ah, the worries we hold that don't change a thing in the outcome!

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  10. WONDERFUL lesson and oh-so-true. I've gotten better at not doing that as I've gotten older. Okay. Old.

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  11. Hi there! I'm still working on not worrying, it usually doesn't happen anyway, why waste my energy on it. Love reading your writing. I'm now a "follower" of your blog!

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  12. I was cracking up! That is SO typical for a little kid to think something like that - and for a brother to rat her out!! I thought with a chainsaw, a trailer, and a cow, there was going to be a freezer full of hamburger and steak at the end of that story. Thanks for sharing that ~

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  13. That was a great story. It made me laugh because you can see how easily kids minds could work in that direction and just totally get sucked in.
    What a great lesson in not jumping to conclusions!

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  14. The older/oldest children have quite an influence on their younger siblings. I bet you could have told you brothers the moon turns green at 2 AM and they would have believed you.

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  15. Howling with laughter over here. OH Mary Ann! I should print this out to give to pastor. hehehe

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  16. I loved this story, point well taken! Thanks for the reminder!

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  17. Love this post. Great thoughts...I am a worrier. I found your blog while "blog surfing."

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  18. Oh lord, I'm still laughing about this!

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  19. I'm grinning here such a sweet post with a great reminder at the end. It took me close to 60 years before I realized God doesn't play tug-of-war... when I give something to Him I have to LET GO!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.