Flip. Flop.

If you look closely you will see the infamous flip flop and the fishing line!

Nothing is ever dull here at the Ferris house.  This week was no different.  Monday was a horrible, awful, terrible, I’m-so-glad-it’s-over kind of a day.  More of the same frustrations we’ve had ever since we decided to follow God’s call to Rochester….things breaking and puppies eating things they shouldn’t.   It was also a week where Brad got to come back to stay with us a few days.  So while it started out icky, it’s really been a good week.  On Wednesday evening,   Neil came in from the outdoors to announce to us that his flip flop was on the roof.   So we ask him the obvious question, “How did your flip flop get up on the roof?”  Simple answer, “I was trying to flip it off my foot into the garage.”  Oh the things teenagers will do for fun.

Brad and I both were thinking Neil meant his flip flop was on the little overhang above the front porch.  Brad instructs Neil to take his fishing rod and “hook” his shoe and pull it down.  So after supper Neil, thinking this was a great idea, returns outdoors to hook his flip flop.  Several minutes go by and Neil returns very upset at this point.  Not only is his flip flop now on the roof, but his fishing lure is stuck as well.  It was at this point I decide maybe I should go out and assess the situation.   Once outside I realize that Neil’s flip flop is actually on the top of our two story house and his fishing lure is now stuck tight, too.  Not really knowing what to do at this point, I ask him what in the world possessed him to do this foolish thing.  He really couldn’t give me any logical reason why.  Just got that sheepish, boyish grin all males have when they are in a situation as this one.

Neil was in the driveway by the sidewalk.  The garage was his target.  Can you see the flip flop on the roof above the set of windows on the left?

So we got Brad and for the next half hour Brad, Neil and I provided passersby and our neighbors with free entertainment.  I don’t think any of the America’s Got Talent acts could have outdone us.  Howard, Sharon, and Howie wouldn’t have buzzed us with our exciting and dangerous feat and America most definitely would have voted us on through to the semi-finals!  Neil tried flipping the lure loose.  When that didn’t work, Brad and I took the screen out of the second story window just under the location of the stuck fishing lure.  Using another six foot fishing pole, we hung out of the window by our waists trying to reach up towards the roof and snag Neil’s fishing line and flip it up and off.  Thankfully no one driving by was injured in the process of gawking at us, but several cars went by very, very slowly.  Thankfully Brad or I didn’t fall out of the window.  Finally realizing that we lacked the resources, we gave up and cut the line.  So now there is not only a flip flop on the roof, but a fishing bait as well.

The window Brad and I were handing out of.  Oh so close but oh so very far away!

This has been a tough lesson for our teenager as these were his favorite shoes.  However, the more I think about this little event, there’s a lesson/reminder for all of us.  We’re all like Neil, aren’t we?  We all do things periodically that at the time seem like a harmless, fun, great idea – FLIPing our shoe into the garage.  In the end however, we –FLOP and end up on the roof.  A, if I knew then what I know now, moment.  Just another great reminder that we cannot be wise in our own eyes and need to be grounded and rooted in God’s word to gain the wisdom and discernment for life’s decisions.  We need to prayerfully consider our choices first before we “Flip our shoe” into the garage.  Only with Godly wisdom can we ensure we won’t FLOP on the roof or worse. 

As I said earlier, nothing is ever dull here.  God uses these daily adventures to illustrate important truths and lessons to me and my family.  I share this particular one to encourage you in your personal relationship with God.  May the flip flop on our roof be a visual reminder for you of our need for Scripture.  We need Scripture to guide our thoughts, because our thoughts or lack of them determine our actions.  I encourage you to read your Bible daily, spend some time in prayer with God, and some time in worship to God.   It is only through this special time that we gain the wisdom we need to make better choices; choices that honor God.  Proverbs 3:13-26; 4:4-13 are scriptures that talk about gaining Godly wisdom.  There are many more in the book of Proverbs and the rest of Scripture.  If you have a favorite one that has been an encouragement to you and your family, please feel free to share them with me.  While this is the first flip flop on the roof, I have a feeling it won’t be the last!

Great little inspirational thought I found on Pinterest this week.  I found it appropriate.