I realised I have been a pastor for too long when even a simple cartoon story can give birth to a sermon.
When I recently heard the story of Snoopy sitting on his kennel eating a bone, it got my mind going.
Snoopy feels dejected as he watches Charlie Brown sitting around a table with his family, enjoying a turkey for Thanksgiving.
At first Snoopy thinks how unfair life is. Just because he is a dog, he must be satisfied with a bone. Then Snoopy thinks to himself, “It could have been worse, I could have been a turkey.”
Wow, the lights went on in my head. All the times I have compared myself with people who have everything. Thoughts cross my mind of how unfair things are. I question God about his apparent favouritism.
Look at those people’s homes, cars, holidays and here I am just surviving.
All at once, my mind’s focus changed to counting my own blessings, my health, my family, daily bread and shelter – things most people don’t have and I have it all. Since the light went on through the wisdom of a cartoon dog, every time I see someone who has more than I have, I quote Snoopy.
Looking at my car, my house and my little blessings, I say, “Could have been worse, I could have been a turkey.”
Stop competing and comparing with people who have it all and enjoy all you have. You could have been a turkey!
