Written by Sheryl Shaffer
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for a girl to get a notion in her head and with time and thinking about it, that notion can turn into solid fact in her head and heart? You just know that what you want to do is the right thing. Your flesh tells you that the choice you are about to make is just so right for you and the people in your life that are opposing it…are all wrong. They just don’t understand. Ever been there?
The Bible talks about that very problem, and we would do well to take hold of every one of our notions and scrutinize them carefully, according to the Word of God, to find out whether this thing or person you feel so strongly about….is really the best for you.
Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man (or girl), but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Death always means separation. In a “death” you are separated from something you desired or loved. Separation is never an enjoyable experience.
Perhaps this little story will say it best….
Don’t Be A Goose
By Calvin Reid
(Taken from the book “Bird Life in Wington)
I think Gertie Goose has learned her lesson. But it was almost too late! My, but she had a narrow escape!
You see, Gertie was in love, or she thought she was, with Willie the Wolf. And who could blame her? For Willie was a “bird-killer,” if ever there was one. He had the best looking brown suit, and when he smiled, those pearly-white teeth of his seemed to say, “I love you so much, I could eat you up right now.” He had a brand new sport roadster too – a red convertible coupe with white sidewall tires, and say, how Willie could whistle!
It was that whistle that introduced him to Gertie. She was standing on a down-town street corner waiting for a bus to take her home one afternoon, when Willie drove by. Of course he whistled. He whistled at all the girl birds – that is, all the pretty ones --- and Gertie certainly wasn’t ugly She liked to be noticed too, so when Willie gave her his Wolf whistle, she smiled, then dropped her head as if she were bashful.
With that he circled the block and came back around to where she was. This time instead of whistling, Willie simply pulled his car up beside her, flung open the door and said, “Hubba, Hubba, Hop in Birdie, I’ll give you a lift.”
Wasn’t that nice of Willie? Gertie thought so, at any rate. So she was utterly amazed at her mother’s attitude when she arrived home.
“Mother, guess what?” gushed Gertie as she rushed into the house. Then she proceeded to tell Mrs. Goose how she had met Willie, how he had offered to drive her home, what nice manners he had, what a stunning car, what beautiful teeth, how nicely groomed his finger nails were --- Gertie could hardly catch her breath for raving about him. “He’s simply divine Mother, and he asked me for a date next week!”
“He’s more devilish than divine,” said Mrs. Goose. Then she proceeded to tell Gertie the truth about the Wolf family. “Now, daughter,” she said as she finished, “I don’t want you to be a snob. By all means speak to Willie when you meet him on the street. You must be courteous to him at all times, but you must not go on rides or have dates with him, because, well just because he’s ‘wild’. You know what I mean by that. And almost always, sooner or later, young birds get into trouble when they go out with wild animals.”
“Oh, Mother,” said Gertie, “you’re so old-fashioned. Why can’t I do what other birds my age are doing?”
Well, did Gertie Goose break her date with Willie the Wolf after hearing what her mother said? Of course not! One evening a few days later she told her mother she was going to a movie with a girl friend to see Donald Duck in “Sink or Swim,” but instead she met Willie at an agreed-upon street corner, and away they flew in his stunning car.
“My parents are so old-fashioned,” said Gertie, “When I’m married, I do hope I don’t waddle like mother or quack like my silly old dad.”
“Stick around me, baby, and you won’t need to worry long,” said Willie, and he smiled from ear to ear, showing every one of his pearly-white teeth.
“Where are we going? asked Gertie. “Aren’t you taking me to the movie?”
“I should say not,” said Willie. “I’m taking you to a night club that will stand you on your head!”
“What’s the name of it?” said Gertie
“The-Goose-Hangs-High,” answered Willie, and again he grinned from ear to ear. He seemed to enjoy showing his teeth.
Well, that is almost the end of the story and it was almost the end of Gertie. For at this famous night club, as it turned out, several of Willie’s wild friends were waiting for him. They were waiting for Gertie too, for it seems Willie promised to bring them a nice tender fowl for supper. So, as soon as Willie and Gertie entered, they began licking their chops and looking hungrily at Gertie.
Gertie turned to Willie expecting him to protect her, but instead he winked at his pals, then whistled. With that they all made a grab for Gertie. For a minute feathers were flying in every direction. Then somehow, Gertie managed to break loose, and up she flew to a wooden beam near the roof.
“Bring me a ladder,” called Willie, and again he grinned, but this time his teeth were anything but pretty to Gertie. As Willie started up the ladder, Gertie noticed an open window not far away, so with a swoop she was gone and straight home as fast as her wings could carry her.
“Mother, Mother, I understand now, and I’ll never disobey you again,” sobbed Gertie, as her mother tucked her in bed, after Gertie had told her story, “and please don’t tell anyone what happened.”
Her mother promised, but the other birds heard about it anyway because Hoo-Hoo Owl was sitting in a tree beside “The- Goose-Hangs-High” night club and saw the whole affair through one of the windows. So now, when Wington parents want to warn their children against doing something wrong, instead of saying, “Don’t be silly,” they simply say, “Don’t be a goose.”
As for Gertie…she hasn’t been out of the house to a party over even to play in the yard for six weeks. She’s waiting for her feathers to grow back.
~~~~~~
The quickest way to ruin your beautiful girlhood is to just ignore the warnings and help of your parents, teachers, pastor and spiritually minded friends who care enough to try to protect your precious life.
There really is a way which seems right to a girl with emotions that guide her choices. But remember… when you choose anything outside of Biblical wisdom, you end up separated from the very thing you were going after and resolved to living a life of heartbreak and regret.
