Reflections on God's Word

by Victoria Robinson

One of the most endearing characters in the classic movie, Gone With the Wind, is Mammy. This precious woman had some great character qualities and wise words as well. When Rhett and Scarlett are on their honeymoon, Rhett says to Scarlett, “Don’t you think it would be nice if you bought something for Mammy too?” To which Scarlett replies, “Why should I buy her a present when she called us both mules?” As Rhett responds, “Mules? Why mules?” Scarlett then repeats the wise words of Mammy, “Yes, she said we could give ourselves airs and get ourselves all slicked up like race horses and we were just mules in horse harness, but we didn’t fool anybody.” Rhett is left to agree with Mammy and says, “I never heard anything more true. Mammy’s a smart old soul. And one of the few people whose respect I’d like to have.”

So girlfriends, are you just a mule in a horse harness? In the book of Matthew, Jesus described Mammy’s sentiments when He said, “Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good.” Are you putting on a “good show” or are you being genuine? Is the person others see, who you really are? If you are a mule in a horse harness, you are fooling no one except yourself.

Dearest girlfriends, I pray our hearts would truly desire the purity that only comes from our heavenly Father and not be a mule in a horse harness.

by Victoria Robinson

Arguably, the greatest movie ever made was Gone With The Wind. Sad to say girlfriends, but at times I can really relate to Aunt Pittypat. Her frequently used line was, “Oh, dear, oh dear, where are my smelling salts? I think I shall faint!” Panic and fainting was always the first thing Aunt Pittypat did in a crisis. God’s Word tells us to behave very differently. It actually says, “Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Whatever situation you are facing in your life, prayer, not panic is the answer. I do not know what makes us think panic will solve anything. In fact in the movie, we read these words on the screen, “Atlanta prayed while onward surged the triumphant Yankees…..Heads were high, but hearts were heavy, as the wounded and the refugees poured into unhappy Georgia…” While Atlanta prayed we find Aunt Pittypat in a flustered voice say, “I can’t bear it! Those cannonballs right in my ear! I’ll faint every time I hear one! Oh, dear, Yankees in Georgia! How did they ever get in?” Once again God’s Word contradicts our fainthearted character. God tells us, “And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic.”

Dearest girlfriends, when we are in trouble, let us fall to our knees in prayer instead of fainting in panic.