Do you remember a nursery rhyme that almost everyone seemed to think was just the thing to entertain a baby with? I must have recited this a thousand times just to see and hear my little ones laugh like only babies can. Remember as you went from the big toe to the little toe the baby was screaming with laughter. The nursery rhyme went something like this.

This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef.
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried, 
“wee __ wee” all the way home.

And if the little one was talking, it was, “do it again.”  In those days there weren’t camcorders or digital cameras to record those precious moments so your memory had to do it all. But, what fun it was to hear them laugh in their cute ways. Who could ever forget that?

Now for an exciting trip to the Tyler barnyard!

Once upon a time there were thirty little pigs that lived in our barnyard. Cute, they were till they grew up and became full size obnoxious hogs. It was the boys’ and my job to feed and water them. Also to make sure they stayed in their pen.

That particular spring we had an abundance of rain and unusually warm weather. The neighbor’s grain and other crops were up and doing well with all the welcome moisture we were having. But at the same time it made perfect rooting soil for the pigs, which created a bit of a problem sometimes.

The boys were in high school now, so that meant if any livestock got out while they were gone, “guess who got to chase them down and put them in again.” You are right! It was me __ the little mom!

While sitting at my sewing machine working away on a project, I looked out the window.  Oh __ what was that, that just went by the window? Uh hu! It was all thirty pigs now (grown ups.) They had rooted in the soft soil right under the fence and were headed right across the road to the neighbor’s grain field. Keep in mind this neighbor was not a livestock person. Strictly a farmer! He had no patience with anyone or with animals.

I quickly grabbed my jacket and flew out the door, remembering that one of the laws was, “No sicking Suzie, our (dingo dog) on them.” We had fair warning what she would do to them. She would tear their flesh and ruin the price at the auction. Suzie had no mercy on pork-butts.

To make a very long piggy story short, I chased the hogs up and down the road; past their pen with the gate wide open so many times I was disgusted and exhausted. 

To the house I went in a huff, called the school and told them that I needed my boys home to help me.  Those boys put that little red jeep in high gear and were home in a little bit to help mom get the hogs in and keep the neighbor from having a heart attack.

We chased those hogs past their gate a dozen times. The piggys were blind. They could not see the way back into the pen. They didn’t want to go back in. Our tongues were hanging out from the chase.  I had had enough. Fuming mad, and with a few expletives, I sent Miss Suzie after their “big hams.” We did not have to show them the gate__ they had good reason to squeal, Wee  __ wee all the way home, with Suzie ripping pork-butts all the way.

 I must tell you that there were lots of prayers flying to heaven that day. I wasn’t sure whether it was our rear ends or the pigs’ fannies that we were worried about, but at any rate the pigs healed up by auction time and before dad got back home again. These are stories that you wait years to tell.

Now the question may be asked, “Don’t you think that last two paragraphs were unnecessary with the “bear truth” on an Inspirational Website?” I’ll answer that.

I am sick of phoniness put on by so many people that pretend to be “holier than thou” [spiritually pure.] The reason that I share honesty, concerning myself, is that I get to tell you that it is a process, as we become a follower of Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit will do the cleaning up of our lives including our vocabulary. I know the scriptures concerning using expletives. I am not disregarding God’s Word at all.

I thank the Lord a million times for His patience with a person like me. My parenting skills and my example to my sons became better as did my vocabulary. It took time. I am not the person I used to be, thank the Lord. Through it all, I’ve learned to leave the judging to the Lord.

 Remember this one thing, God’s love is so much bigger than a curse word and our shortcomings. His mercy and forgiveness is fresh and new each morning (See Lamentations 3:22,23.) Just ask Him to forgive you and help you to change your ways as I did. Eph.5: 10 says “…try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord; [let your lives be constant] proofs of what is most acceptable to Him.” Amplified Bible. Good advice?

Suggested Reading:  Ephesians 2:5-10, 4:22-32, 5: 11-18, and 6: 1-18. Philippians 4:8, 13. Colossians 3:8-25, 4: 5,6. Amplified Bible if you have it.

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