Turtle on a Fencepost

One day a farmer was plowing his field and up ahead of him he spotted a turtle who was attempting to cross his path.  Knowing that the turtle would be killed if he continued, the farmer stopped.  He got out of his tractor and picked up the turtle and put it on a fencepost.  He knew the turtle would be safe until he finished his job.  Sometime later a man driving down a side road saw something unusual on a fence.  He stopped his car and saw the turtle on the fencepost and promptly helped it down.

This story provides us with some valuable lessons for our life.  If you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know that it didn’t get there by himself.  Whenever we achieve something in life and we suddenly rise to an elevated position we need to remember that just like the turtle we didn’t achieve it without help.  The scripture reminds us to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).  Paul often gave a list of his coworkers who were valuable to him in his service for the Lord.  Our success, our position, our achievements are not solely the work of our own strength.  So many others have encouraged us, counselled us, and given us a hand up.  They have been like iron sharpening us for effective usefulness. We who know Christ also need to acknowledge the strength and power of the Lord in our life.  We ought to say with Paul: “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).  The image of the turtle on a fencepost ought also to give us a sense of humility.  God’s Word calls us to: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).  One more thing about that turtle.  He needed help getting down.  Just as others can help us get to that elevated position, we often need others to help us when we get into trouble.

Are you the turtle on the fencepost.  Remember you didn’t get there by yourself.  Keep yourself humble.  And one day you will need a helping hand getting down.