"Nooooo!" I screamed as I slowed down trying to avoid the inevitable. "Don't do it, Cedrick!" But that furry little creature kept on running. Thuh-thunk. And the squirrel was no more. Gosh, I wish those dumb critters could hear me yelling at them and heed my warning, but they never do. They charge, full barrel across the road at the most inopportune times, and it always ends with them flat on their face and tire marks on their back.
I remember when my brother and I were teenagers. So often, my mom would tell my brother to do something and it would turn into him arguing, trying to convince her to change her mind. I knew he was going to lose, and he needed to stop. Sometimes I even stood behind my mom, looking at my brother, waving my arms and shaking my head desperately trying to get him to quit. Just like when I was yelling at the squirrel, "Don't do it, Cedrick," I wanted to yell at my brother, too. He was fixing to end up flat on his face, and I wanted to help him before he went too far.
Sometimes I think our friends and family members need us to yell loud enough for them to hear. As outsiders looking in, we can often see the consequences of rash decisions and impulsive thinking in the lives of those we love and care for. We can see them about to be careened by a giant semi when all they see is the adrenaline and excitement of the moment. "Well, it's none of my business if he falls flat on his face," some might say, or, "Well, he's old enough to deal with the consequences." Maybe so, but when we love people, we share our concerns. They may not heed our warnings, but at least we took the time to tell them and looking back, they will recognize that we cared.
When I was in college, I was dating a guy I met on a mission trip. Puppy love, many would call it. I was so wrapped up that I missed the major warning signs that this relationship was not for me. My mom made comments and suggestions, but she quickly recognized that I was too blind to see the truth. I was about to become a dumb Cedrick the Squirrel and end up flat on the road with tire marks across my back. But my mom did for me what we can do for our friends and family members who are plagued with dumb-squirrel-itis. She prayed for me. And she prayed hard. Her faithful, specific prayers were soon answered as God finally pulled back the veil from my eyes so that I could see the truth. Her prayers saved me from a huge mistake.
We need to speak the truth, in love, to our friends and family. If we truly love them, we are the first to yell, "Noooo! Don't do it, Cedrick!" and pull them out of harm's way. And even if they don't respond, we have the most powerful weapon on our side-prayer. And prayer can change everything for the Cedricks in our lives.
For more inspiration from Christy, visit her blog at christybassadams.com or send comments to christyadams008@gmail.com.