The Don'ts

Have you ever heard this quote?

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”  
Shel Silverstein

I think I've listened to the don'ts most of my life. Seemed to me the church especially was very, very good at giving a list of don'ts to live by. And I listened, boy, did I listen. Looking back I see so many things I could've done I didn't, could've tried but didn't, wanted to do but didn't. I had the don'ts down cold.

Then I turned 30 and I really met Jesus. 

And then I moved from being a church person to a Jesus follower. 

Now my list of tries, dones, and wanted to's has grown significantly, but in a way I'd never imagined. I've traveled more, tried more, explored more and let more people in. Anything can happen, child. Anything can be...

This week, I was hit with the reality that some don'ts aren't bad. They are don'ts for a reason. 

Don't let your eyes rest on the problem, look up.

Don't let yourself become defeated, reach up.

Don't let your tongue be out of control, shut up.

And there are so many others, but you get the idea. And then I reread the quote above...

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”  
Shel Silverstein

He only says to listen to them, not to make them the rule. I like that. I don't regret the don'ts, I'm sure they have kept me from things I didn't need to be in anyway. That's ok. But moving forward, I think I'll just listen because Anything can happen, child. Anything can be... 

Sounds a lot like  Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

peace.