Musings and Memories
By Doug Dezotell
Why?
That’s a good question.
Why do we use the word WHY so often? Because! That’s why!
Here are some common examples of WHY between Kids (K) and their Parents (P):
Little Kids (LK) use the WHY word incessantly.
LK: Why is the Sun yellow? Why is the grass green? Why is water wet? Why is snow white? Why does it get dark at night? Why do our cats go Meow? Why do our puppies bark? Why do you have hair on your chin when Daddy doesn’t have hair on his?
Why? Why? WHY?
Mom P: I don’t know WHY. Go ask your Dad. Dad P: I don’t know WHY. Go ask your Mom.
K: Why can’t I have candy? P: Because I said so. That’s WHY!
K: Why can’t I have ice cream? P: Because I said so. That’s WHY!
K: Why do I have to go to bed right now? P: Because I said so that’s WHY! (Truthfully, WHY you have to go to bed right now is because I am dogged tired, and I want to go to bed myself, and I can’t rest peacefully until I know that you are in bed and asleep, and because I have to get up early to get myself ready for the new day, and then I have to get you up and get you ready for school, and fix your breakfast, and take you to school, and then get myself to work….and then the cycle begins all over again… That’s WHY! That’s really WHY I said so!)
WHY? WHY? WHY?
Why do we press harder on the TV remote when we know the batteries are going dead?
Why does someone believe you when you say there are more than four billion stars up there in the sky but they have to check when you say the paint is wet?
Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Why do banks charge a fee on ‘insufficient funds’ when they know there is not enough money in your account?
Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?
Why do kids (no matter what age) constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized since they last checked an hour ago?
Why do people (kids, no matter what age) stand in front of a refrigerator full of food and ask “Why don’t we have anything good to eat?
How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat in summer?
Why, when we’re in Walmart or Kroger and someone with a full cart RAMS our ankle and then apologizes for doing so, WHY do we say, “Oh, that’s okay.” (Well, it isn’t okay, and “I’ll probably have to go get an Xray because I think I have a broken ankle,” so WHY don’t we just say, “That hurt, you jerk. I’m calling the police.”) Instead we hobble on and finish our shopping.
WHY? WHY? WHY?
Why did you choose to live in a place like Shelbyville? Unionville? Wartrace? Bell Buckle? Normandy? Wheel? And then have to drive miles and miles to get gas to drive miles and miles to get groceries and to pick up your prescriptions and to shop for clothing?
WHY?
Why is it that people find chocolate so addictive? Then WHY is chocolate not considered a ‘controlled substance?’
Here are some WHY riddles our grandkids might ask:
Q: Why did mommy spider scold the baby spider? A: Because he spends too much time on the web.
Q: Why do pencils shave? A: To look sharp.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: to get away from the cacti.
Q: Why did the cactus cross the road? A: It got stuck to the chicken.
Q: Why do bees hum? A: Because they don’t know the words!
Q: Why did the candle quit his job? A: Because he felt burned out.
Q: Why did the scarecrow get an award? A: Because he was out standing in his field.
Q: Why was the King only 12 inches tall? A: Because he was a ruler.
WHY…WHY…WHY…
Now, here’s my favorite WHYs. WHY should I read the Bible? Why should You read the Bible?
Because God Said So, That’s Why!
In Psalm 119 God says through the songwriter: “ 1 Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey God’s laws and search for God with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in God’s paths…. 105 God’s Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
Why should we read and study the Bible, The Word of God? Jesus answered that for us in Matthew 4:4: “People do not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the Mouth of God.”
Why should we read and study the Bible? Because as we Read the Bible, God’s Spirit pours into our hearts, or into our minds, into our lives.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews says: “For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
The Psalmist wrote: “I will study God’s Commandments and reflect on His ways. I will delight in God’s decrees and not forget God’s Word.”
A Christian teacher once wrote: “We read the Bible because we know how valuable it is to our entire lives. It is water to our spirit. And since our spirit is eternal, it supersedes and shapes our natural being as well — body, mind, emotions, and will. We read God’s Word because it gives us energy, clears the mind, directs our path, draws us to God, abates our worries and satisfies our soul!”
The Apostle Paul wrote to his friend Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”
Jesus said: “Heaven and Earth will disappear, but my Words will never disappear.”
A song I learned a long, long time ago goes like this: “JESUS Loves Me, This I know…”
WHY? “For The Bible Tells Me So…”
Now Have a Great Day!
Why? Because I said so!
Doug Dezotell is a columnist for the Bedford County Post. He has the privilege of serving as the pastor of Cannon UMC in Shelbyville, and has the privilege of being the husband of Lynn Dezotell. Doug can be contacted by phone at 931-607-5191 or by email at dougmdezotell@gmail.com. Thank you for reading Doug’s “Musings and Memories.” And thank you for reading the Bedford County Post.
