Got My Goat

Did someone get your goat last week?  Odd little saying isn’t it - maybe even odd and old.  For all the young whippersnappers reading this – it means someone made you mad. 

 

While researching the origin of this phrase I came across several explanations. The one written about most often I have not witnessed but then I didn't go to horse races at the turn of the 20th century. Please .... I wasn't even around at the turn of the 20th century.

Horses of a high-strung nature were often accompanied by a goat (or a sheep). It was a way of calming a horse down, especially a thoroughbred horse before a race. The legend has it that rivals and crooks deliberately betting against that horse, would steal the goat, resulting in the horse being upset and less able to run a victorious race. The thief would thus have "gotten the horse's goat."  That would make everyone mad when the horse lost the race.   

They may not house race horses with goats these days but after this past election I'd say there were quite a few people who got their goat stolen. Not to fret the good news is anger managements classes are available.  Even better news God's Word addresses the issue of unbridled anger. 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)   

The verse tells us that we have “this treasure” in earthen vessels. Who is the treasure? Christ! Who are the earthen vessels here? You and I! For patience when facing goat theft thank God the treasure is in the earthen vessels.   

A pearl to string: If you pray for patience and you want God to give it to you right now be aware trials will commence.  If you listen real close you will here God whisper "are you there yet?" after each test.  That taught me to pray for wisdom knowing that patience is the result.  And no tests! Then wisdom taught me to thank God: “Lord Jesus, I thank You that You are my patience.” 

When we rest in and depend on the strengths of our Savior we become the overcomer of the adversity facing us. So don’t get frustrated when you see your “earthiness”. You will always be “earthen” as long as you are in your mortal body, but remember that Christ the treasure is in you when you invite Him into your heart.

 

You are loved,

                 Lyndi