I hadn’t heard the alarm on the microwave, but when I went
to check, smoke billowed out of the crevices around the microwave door. When I
opened it, I saw burnt paper and ash.
I coughed so
hard, I began to understand what smoke inhalation could do.
“What could’ve happened?” I moaned as I ran around hacking, opening
windows, and turning off smoke alarms. My husband, Jerry, joined me in trying to
get rid of the gray cloud that had descended on us. He couldn’t help it. He had
to ask, “Did you read the directions?”
“Yes, three minutes,” I said defensively.
“Did you read the rest of the directions?”
I picked up a new popcorn bag, “Set microwave to three
minutes on high . . ., and listen carefully. Stop microwave when popping beings
to slow. Some bags may be done in less than one and one-half minutes. “
Somehow, Jerry managed not to say anything else.
To add to our woes, after we opened all the windows, the
next day, Mama Kitty burrowed a hole in one of the screens.
 |
| Wilbur inspects the damage. |
Sigh.
Back to those directions . . . listen carefully.
The Psalmist wrote, “I listen carefully to
what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people” (Psalm 85:8 NLT)
Just as I almost set the microwave on fire
that day because I didn’t listen, our lives can burn down when we don’t listen
carefully to God and receive the peace he’s speaking into our hearts.
If we want to find fresh strength, we need
to listen carefully. And read the directions, for His word offers us truth that
will help us avoid calamity.
Our microwave is now a toasty brown inside.
Did I mention it was brand new, only a month old? When I open it, it says, READ
THE DIRECTIONS. LISTEN CAREFULLY.
One of the good things that came out of all this is I'm the only person I know who has a microwave that speaks spiritual truth.