[Proverbs as Parables]: Jaqueline the Racoon Loves Trash

Jaqueline the racoon LOVED trash. She loved the sliminess. She loved the smells. She especially loved the sound of metal trash cans when they tipped over and crashed on the concrete driveway scaring away all the rodents. 

She loved trash like pirates love gold, like princesses love silver and like kings love rubies. She thought trash was the greatest, the most precious, the most incomparable, the most pleasant thing in the world. The dirty socks were something special to suck on. The rotten tomatoes squished delightfully in her mouth. What she wouldn’t do for the taste of trash!

There was only one problem. People. People hated Jaqueline when she made the trash can noise. Just when she would get deep down into the very bottom of the trash can the most terrifying things would happen. 

Bright lights.

Loud screams.

Big people running.

Large items flying.

Most of the time, poor Jaqueline would barely get away without getting bonked on the head with a large wooden broom stick. 

Until one day Jaqueline found another smell at the doorstep of a home she’d never been to before. Steak and mushrooms, scrambled eggs with hot sauce and even a bowl of chocolate milk. In the doorway stood a woman smiling kindly. Jaqueline crept up toward the food warily. This was certainly not the normal experience for her nightly treks in the trash cans. 

Then she came up to the food and enjoyed it. 

No bright lights.

No loud screams.

No big people running around.

No large items bonking her on the head. 

Just the absolute best food she had ever had! From the most pleasant person she had ever seen! In fact, the woman in the doorway even invited her inside and showed her where more tasty food could be found. She even had pots and pans that made other cool noises. 

Jaqueline was free to come and go as she pleased to find not only food far better than gold, silver or rubies, but to also find peace and freedom from getting whacked on the head. 

What do you treasure most?

Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Proverbs 3:13-18