Recently I was at home in Tuskegee, Alabama (the country...think cows and chickens) spending time with my family. I decided that I was going to go exercise everyday while home so I wouldn't get out of the habit. On day one, I was driving to my old high school to do a workout and I saw a dog with a jug stuck on his head (Yes, as weird as that may sound). I immediately pulled over and beckoned for the dog to come to me so I could try to get it off but he took off running instead. One my way back home, I noticed the dog again, this time I ran in the house to get my dad so he could help me but when we went to find him he had run off. (yes,there is a point to this story)
That night for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about the dog (who my family has nicknamed "Jug Head"). I had a number of questions going through my mind about him (who did that to him or did he do it himself?, how long had it been there?, could he breathe? How will he get food or water?, was he weak from a lack of food or water?). I woke up early the next morning looking for him but I couldn't find him. Later that day I saw him again, I was thinking that surely this time he would come to me and let me get the jug off of his head but again, he took off running away from me. My mom laughed at me for obsessing over this dog and that's when God began to speak to me and this is what he said....
Kristin, my daughter, I understand exactly how you feel. I go through this same pain daily. I see my beloved children, with jugs on their heads too. They think that they are meeting their essential needs outside of me but they aren't. They are burdened down with pain, hurt, failure, broken hearts, sin, and envy and they will either Come to Me so that I can removed the jug (weight of their sins, pain,etc.) or they will suffocate and die. I know they see me, they heard about the things that I have done, they sat in church or encountered one of my disciples that told them that I am able to removed the jug, yet they turn and run away from me as fast as they can. I have sovereign authority so I could at any point force them to me, but I gave them free will. You see Kristin, I'm the only true way that they can have the burden of the jug removed, but I want them to love me the way I love them. I don't want to force my way to them. And I want to do much more than remove the jug, I want to replace it with abundant life, I want to give them the nourishment that they are truly longing for. I want to replace the jug with love, grace, mercy and peace. But instead, too often I have to watch my children die, the ones that I created, the ones that I created purpose for before they were even formed in the womb. I had big plans for them, I stood at the door and knocked, they peeked out the window and occasionally opened the blinds and looked at me, but they never came to me. Kristin, I am the only way.
Wow! God, thank you for your word. All I could do was cry. I have been Jug Head many times in my own life. God wanted to give me life in specific circumstances but I ran away thinking that It would be best handled on my own. I thank God that through his spirit I am growing to love and trust him more, with my everything.
Consider the times in your life when you have been Jug Head. Remember, God is saying, "Come to Me, I will GIVE you LIFE"
