In a section of the book titled “On the Anvil” by Max Lucado. It says this: “When a potter bakes a pot, he checks it solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it “sings” it’s ready. If it “thuds”, it’s placed back in the oven. The character of the person is also checked by thumping. Been Thumped lately? Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. “You’ve got to be kidding” deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat footed. They aren’t big enough to be a crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out. Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor…thump. Thump. Thump. How do I respond? Do I sing? Or do I thud? Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). There is nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics, but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living.” I do not know about you but I really do not like being thumped...but it seems that I have been a lot lately. There have been times of song and times of hollow “thudding”. So how are you handling your thumps? Singing...or thudding? I pray that my life, and yours, will produce a “sweet sound” to our God.