Rocks in the Dryer Thoughts

This post goes out to Deirdre, who was there when inspiration hit! :)

I have boys. One in particular who collects things. Bottle caps, seashells, marbles, stamps, coins... and rocks.

I can't tell you how many times I have put a load of laundry into the dryer and before I make it out of the room, I hear the clunk-clunk-clunk of a rock in the dryer.

Sometimes I pause and consider letting it just stay there. I'm usually on my way to do the next thing on my list. Stooping to the dryer to pick through wet laundry and find that troublesome rock is not on my list of fun things to do.

So I stand there and listen to it.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

I realize how annoying that's going to get. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

And then I think about all the damage it might be doing to my dryer. I really need that dryer to function. I'm not a clothesline kinda girl, and besides, all would be frozen in this season.

If I want to save the dryer, both from damage and possible death, I need to get that rock out.

And finally, I do just that.

It's the same thing with our thoughts.

How many times do we let a harmful or angry thought into our minds and let it tumble around and around in our heads? We replay conversations and think up things we'd really like to say. We cycle the same things for long hours, not realizing that with each cycle, we are putting dents in the dryer.

Sometimes it can be physical denting. Stress reactions. Headaches, tiredness, grouchiness, withdrawing. Sometimes it can be long term dents, where that rock gets caught deep in the workings of our mind, and totally breaks it down, stops us in our tracks.

The Bible advises that we "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."(2 Cor 10:5) What would make up the obedience of Christ? Well, "the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these." (Gal 5:22,23)

We need to stop these thought processes before they damage us, and replace them with the above kind of things.

And maybe,

at some point,

if we're smarter than the average bear,

we'll eventually learn to check the pockets first.

Blessings, Friends. :)