SAWGRASS!

‘Sawgrass’ photo by permission of the photographer, Jeff Pippen.

Nasty!  There is definitely a message here.  

Sawgrass is named for the sharp-toothed edge of its leaf blades.  These teeth are made of silica and very sharp!  (See photo above).  I could include pictures of bloody arms and legs of people who walk through them, but I didn’t want to gross you out.  Sawgrass can reach 8 to 10 feet tall!  This coupled with its razor- sharp edges make it almost impossible to travel through without wounding yourself.                                         
The interesting thing is, the new growth of sawgrass is tender and edible.  White tailed deer love it!  It takes a while for the edge to accumulate silica to form those nasty teeth. 

When we were born, we too were tender.  Some people are able to stay tender, but some slowly begin to grow ‘teeth’.  Sawgrass is a warning to us to be watchful, careful that we don’t grow those teeth that are harmful to others.  I am reminded of the scripture:   

‘See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up (with teeth) to cause trouble and defile (CUT) many.’ Hebrews 12:15.

‘See to it’ means you have to make an effort to NOT grow teeth as you grow older.

I wrote this post in November of 2020, now its 2024 and nothing has changed!?  It seemed then as it does now, that the USA is full of SAWTOOTH politicians.  

A good example of what not to become!  What happens to people to cause them to grow such nasty teeth and cut each other?

BITTERNESS.  What is the answer?  FORGIVENESS.

Bitterness has its roots in some kind of disappointment or hurt.  People hurt us, anger us, disappoint us, betray us, lie to us, slander us, scheme against us, and in doing so, (even though it may not be intentional) makes us bitter.  We grow teeth.  

The answer is forgiveness!!

Forgive, forgiven, forgiveness and forgiving are mentioned up to 150 times in the bible.  

‘Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?’” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.”  Matthew 18:21-22.  That’s a lot of forgiveness and shows just how important it is!

The apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians says it so well.     

‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’  Ephesians 4:29-32.

Isn’t this the way we should be?  

SMOOTH YOUR BLADE!