The Italian Memorandum

“…do not throw your pearls before pigs”

                (Matthew 7:6)

We recently heard about a parrot named George who was missing a leg.  Accordingly, London, Feb 24 (ANI) reports: “A one-legged parrot is perching on a scientific breakthrough, for it is about to be fitted with a wooden leg.  George the parrot, a ten-year-old African Grey, lost a claw after being attacked by a wild animal, which broke into his cage…The birdie’s owner was concerned for him, and so advice was sought from experts at the University of Salford.”  The prosthetic leg procedure went off well.  Unfortunately, as of February 25, we heard on the radio that George had chewed off his new prosthetic leg.

This seemingly anti-cooperative action on George’s part raises questions.  But, for our purpose, we must not allow George’s parrot behavior to coincide with our own human response to the unfortunate incident.  After all, we are not bird brains (for the most part; see Matt. 7:6).  Still, there is a sense of ungratefulness when we as the Lord’s people fail to appreciate what has been done on our behalf.

1.    Ungratefulness surfaces when we fail to return thanks and praise God (see the Cleansing of the Ten Lepers, Luke 17:11-19).

2.    Ungratefulness surfaces when we separate ourselves from the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:21-25).

3.  Ungratefulness occurs when the Lord’s Supper is treated as a common meal (1 Corinthians 10:14-22; 11:27).

George would not know how to appreciate the experts at the University of Salford.  But you and I may know.   Will you not give thanks properly to the Lord today?                                                                            -Robert M. Housby