Only two more dwarfs and then Snow White to finish out this blog series of lessons from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I’m focusing on Bashful today. When I think of the word bashful, I think of shy. However, that was not in the dictionary’s definition. Here’s what Webster’s has to say: Bashful = having a downcast look; hence very modest; modest to excess; sheepish. In the movie, we can tell by his expressions that his name fit.
I would not consider myself actually bashful because I can strike up a conversation with just about anyone, anyplace – one on one of course. Heaven help the passenger who sits next to me on a plane because if I can make eye contact, a conversation begins. But, even with that being said, I still get red in the face and almost break out in a sweat when I remember oral book reports, solo twirling competitions or heaven forbid, presentations in front of a group! My Mother has always said that those circumstances bring about a “deer in the headlight” look on my face. Put me with other people and I’m just having fun but alone – YIKES! Why does it look so easy for some people?
Even Moses had issues. He felt inadequate but – when I read this I wonder how he could feel so inadequate and at the same time have the boldness (or outright gall) to argue with God. Then I am reminded that I also argue with God in my own ways. Sometimes I think, why me? I’m not qualified! And sometimes I just don’t want to do whatever it is I think He’s put before me. Do you ever have those feelings? Here’s the story of Moses rebelling against God’s instructions as found in Exodus when God was sending him to free the Israelites. Exodus 4:10-17 “Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.”
I have found though that when I obey God, even when He calls me to step out in front of others, and I’m scared and feel so very inadequate, He provides in and through me. He can give any of His Children words to speak and the boldness to speak them. Look what he did for this man who was not only mute but deaf as well. Mark 7:31-35 “Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha?” (which means, “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.”
Bold = daring; courageous; brave; confident; not timorous. Over and over again in His Word, God calls us to be bold and courageous. After all, we don’t go alone! He is always with us! Here are a few examples:
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Lessons I learned from Bashful: Well, I still feel my face get hot and red whenever I have to get in front of people to speak but, I am more willing each time as I know that if God calls me to it, He will bring me through it. Be bold and courageous friends! It’s all for His Glory! Ephesians 6:19 “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make
He looked miserable. Maybe it was dust making him sneeze. They probably had dust in their mine and we saw that they had an abundance of dust in their cottage. Yikes! I thought I let dust go too long. They had spiders in cobwebs that may have been there for generations. They had apparently lived that way for so long they didn’t even notice or realize how bad it was. The dishes were piled high and dirt and dust were everywhere. Then Snow White came. Along with help from her animal friends, they got that place spotless. They worked and worked but did you notice that it didn’t seem like work to them? They were happy in their work and working together they had that house ship shape before the dwarfs got home from the mine.
Do you have someone in your life like that? If not, I encourage you to ask God to send someone. It’s an immeasurable blessing (thank you PJS)!
Whatever the reason, it was evident that he needed rest in the worst way. I’ve never seen eyelids that heavy without being closed.
We all need sleep and we all need rest – physical and spiritual. God set an example for us when after creating the heavens and the earth, he rested on the 7th day and made it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). Jesus took the apostles to a quiet place to rest (Mark 6:31). What we must ask ourselves though is do we need and get appropriate sleep and rest or are we just plain lazy. I know I find myself in both situations at different times. Here are some warnings to us about laziness:
Many years ago my grandma was in a nursing home. It was a sad place and she knew she was there but she could not communicate with us. It makes my heart cry when I think about it. So why do I talk about this on my “happy” post? Because there was a lady in the nursing home with my grandma who was happy. She was happy all the time. She sang and smiled and simply enjoyed each moment of her day. She was living in the moment, even though she probably did not know where she was or what day it was. It simply didn’t matter. She was happy. If I ever lose my mind (no comments please!), I want to be like her. But, I can do that now. Attitude is always something we can control. I need to determine to be happy. Here’s what God’s Word says about happy:
Even in the movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, Happy was sad when he thought Snow White had died. Look at the benefits of a cheerful heart and look though:
WOW – I don’t want to be any of those things. They don’t sound like anyone I want to know and they certainly don’t sound like anyone I want to be. However, sometimes I just feel like I want to be grumpy. That doesn’t make sense I know but it’s true. Have you ever found yourself kind of feeling like you want to be grumpy? I can sometimes feel myself getting kind of grumpy inside and I don’t even know why. Have you been there? Are you there now? One of my temptations to grumpiness is when I look out the back of our house. We have lived here for about 5 years and had a beautiful field behind us. It was especially nice to look at when planted in winter wheat and the wind was blowing it. Oh, and one of the best things about this field is that we have enjoyed unobstructed sunset views. They are truly incredible. Well, recently the field was sold and now is in the hands of a developer. They have been moving dirt, hauling gravel, and beginning a new housing addition. Needless to say it has been a dirty, dusty mess! We can’t sit out on the back patio and now that the weather is cooler and we would love to open our windows, we can’t because that would only invite the dirt inside (and I don’t enjoy dusting)! In the scheme of things, that is a petty, small annoyance and not a big deal but I can make it a big deal easily if I allow myself.
Gather Around for God 