Once upon a time, there lived a giant turtle. All the other turtles were very tiny and could move very quickly.
Trumpet, the big turtle, was so sad. He was so depressed.
“Why did God make me so big?” he asked. I can hardly move around in this immense jungle. The turtle cried out to God everyday to change him or his surroundings, but nothing happened.
The more depressed he became, the more he was made fun of by the other turtles. They called him a baby. “Hey,” they said, ” you may be big, but we tell you, you are a b-i-g baby. Stop all that whining and grow up.”
A wise, wise turtle saw how upset Trumpet was. He prayed and prayed. “Lord, how can I help Trumpet. What can I say to help him? Why did you make him so big?” The wise, wise turtle sat for a long time before the Lord. He heard from the Lord and then went to Trumpet.
“Hi Trumpet,” the wise one said, “I have just heard from the Lord. He says that He made you big, with a strong voice so that others could hear you. He said that you are dwelling on the wrong things. You are dwelling on yourself. He said that He has and will pour lots of wisdom through you if you would only stop thinking of yourself. Thinking ME, MYSELF, and I will not get you anywhere but death. You need to start thinking of others and God says he will pour and pour and pour out his wisdom upon you.
He wants you to be a trumpet for him. That is why he gave you that name. Go now and be a trumpet for the Lord.
“Ok, ok,” said Trumpet. He began to bellow, “I’m a trumpet for the Lord and I will stand and stand and stand. I’ll stand on his promises and you’d better too, he yelled to the other turtles. Then he began to sing:
Come my children, come!
Come my children, come!
Hear his words, for He is Good!
He is Good for you and me!
Shout it to the rooftops!
Shout in the valleys!
Tell the children to come!
Come! Come! Like you are!
Accept the gift of Love I gave!
Be washed as white snow
For I gave you L——–i———-f———-e.
For I gave you life.
“That is very good,” said the wise turtle. “Now just keeping walking everyday with the Lord. Keep your eyes on him.”
Trumpet rolled his eyes heavenward and whispered, “Thank you Jesus.”
By Rena K. Oynes – September, l999
thedailylily.com 
Rena, your story of not thinking so much about myself but others made me think this morning about the precious children and women in Darfur that are starving and being abused and chased from their homes.
I thought I need to focus on these children and women that they will have food to eat and places to sleep before it is too late. I hope you and others will join me in remembering the women and children of Darfur and that peace keepers will have entrance and access to these children soon. Thank you for your prayers.
I stand with you in agreement that the children and women will have food to eat and a place to sleep this day and the coming days ahead. May the Lord open all the doors for Peace Keepers to come in with supplies for these precious people so that they will not perish. God this morning, I was reading that you are a God of fire in Hebrews 12. May you make a way straight for those people to get in and assist. Burning up the thistles and hindrances in the way. Amen!
I agree with the above prayers also for the women and children of Darfur and that they will grow strong and healthy and be filled with hope and joy.
this morning, as I was passing from sleep to ‘awake’, I heard these words (to this effect) in my being. “I have given precious promises that if you will hold to them, will fill up all the valleys and make the road straight to Heaven.” So I thank the Lord for His precious promises that He has given (2Pet.1:4)” that by these we may be partakers of the Divine Nature AND ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION that is in the world by Faith” Peter tells us to do this by diligence, virtue, knowledge, temperence, patience, godliness, and brotherly love.
It seems the dailylily is helping us to express the love of God to all His children and to encourage, exhort, admonish and cheer one another on, on the ROAD TO HEAVEN. Keep up the good work LILY!
I join you in remembering the women and children of
Darfur and pray that peace keepers will get the entrance and access soon to the children….I pray all will be done speedily and safely and every need will be met….dj