This past week, Pearl had to spend several days in my house and in the front bedroom. She did not completely understand that this was to save her life because of the freezing cold and snow we have experienced here in Coastal Virginia.

Yesterday, I returned her to where she felt the most comfortable, and we had a talk together that she felt about this much the way that people felt about the rules that God has set up for them.

A Lamp is Better Than Add-on Leg Feathers

A Lamp Is Better Than Add-on Leg Feathers

Pearl felt that she could find her own way and not get lost or fall into trouble while she stayed where she felt most comfortable. I felt that there have been times in my life when I was most comfortable making my own rules. We both wanted to go wherever we chose to go.

As we talked together, Pearl and I both realized that fences and boundaries for her and commandments for me were to protect us from disasters that we could not foresee or imagine.

Pearl used tree sap to add extra feathers to her feet, but they did not help her find her way. As the Songbirds sang, “Your ancient words, Almighty God, are a lamp to my feet, and I always know where I’m stepping. Your ancient words are a light to my path, and I always know which way to travel.” (Psalm 119: 105, LL&CV)

As we talked together, she and I both realized that fences for her and commandments for me were to protect us from disasters that we could not foresee or imagine.

And so we looked for more places in The Ancient Words that had important words to speak to our hearts about Rules and Life. We found these: Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:24, Psalm 119:93, Proverbs 7:2, Psalm 19:7, Psalm 91:1-2, Proverbs 30:5, Isaiah 41:10. You may want to read them for yourself in your own favorite version of The Ancient Words.

For any of our readers who are unsure what we mean by “The Ancient Words,” here is a video song that explains it very well. It is one of our favorites. Interestingly, Michael W. Smith owns a farm here in our state of Virginia!

You can learn about his farm and his love of animals on his Facebook page.