Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Talk straight Tuesday, December 16, 2008 Matthew 21:28-31 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went. "The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no." So said both Jesus and his brother James. Don't make vows of any kind, but do make up your mind and do what you say you'll do. This is pleasing to both God and man. In his weekly column this week Garrison Keillor penned a double-edged observation of his fellow Minnesotans, when he compared them with New Yorkers: We admire New Yorkers for many, many things, for ... their handy street-corner hot dogs and also their ability to express personal preference, which we dirt farmers lost a long time ago. It was frowned out of us when we were children. It seems so simple -- say what you want, say what you think -- but we gave up the ability in order to be unselfish and sociable and not be monsters, and so if we're asked what we want to do, we say, "Hey. Whatever you want. Makes no difference. Suit yourself." And having suppressed our likes and dislikes for so long, we are not sure what we want, or even who we are ... The great unspoken question of Christmas is, "What do you want? What would make you happy?" I don't know. Just give me some of what those people over there are having. They look happy. I'll have what they're having. I get the impression that the Jews of Jesus' time had strong opinions. Sometimes that got them into trouble, of course; but not so much trouble as having no opinions at all. And that's not as bad as changing my mind all the time, keeping everyone off guard and relieving myself of all responsibility for a yes or a no. Second-guessing my decisions like this is usually the result of second-guessing myself. I might not have felt free as a child to: 1. Feel what I feel, and say it 2. Think what I think, and say it 3. Want what I want, and say it Those are three basic rules of healthy family life. Getting along well with others, with myself and especially with God requires that I learn to live by them. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. "; Add      Edit    Delete