The Ditch

Hi Pastor John,

I had a sweet experience with Jesus yesterday, and I wanted to share it. 

I had been mowing some of the leaves that have fallen and saw some garbage in the ditch.  I stopped the mower and got off to pick up the garbage.  There were two glass whiskey bottles and two beer cans lying near each other, and as I bent down to pick them up, I felt frustrated. 

I began to tell Jesus how much it bothered me that some people just threw their alcohol bottles in the ditch as they drove or walked by.  Actually, I told him that those people get on my nerves, and I didn’t want to have to pick up after their bad habits.  When I said that, Jesus started talking to me.  Jesus asked me which condition would I rather be in, the condition of the poor soul carrying around that bottle or the condition of being clean and sober, and cleaning up the ditch? I know what condition I was in before Jesus came into the ditch and carried me out.  It changed me as soon as he said that.  I am just overwhelmed with thankfulness for what condition I am in.

I have been picking up garbage out of that ditch for five years now, and I don’t think I will ever feel the same about it.  I thought about it all day, and the same overwhelming thankfulness hits me.  Jesus cleans up ditches all the time! 

When Jesus talks to you it changes things.  I love how true that is! 

Beth D.

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