"He Knows"

           Sliding through a barbed wire fence was not a challenge or even given a second thought to boys who, at this point in time, had spent many hours working and exploring every square foot of the farm that was our home.  There was something else on our minds as we made our way through the knee-high pasture grass disturbing the big yellow grasshoppers of summer.  Leaving the tall grasses behind we now kicked and threw dirt clods as we crossed a furrowed field, where crops were often planted by our father.  As we walked we discussed all the important things in life that brothers of the wise ages of nine, eight, and seven could talk about, but as we did we kept our eyes looking toward our intended destination.  Across this field, where a small creek intersected the dirt road that ran beside our farm, was a place of treasure.  We visited it often bringing home treasures others had discarded.  Why people drove down this back road and dumped these treasures into our creek we were not sure but we were richer for it.  Upon arrival, we started kicking and excavating looking for those items others had carelessly tossed, surely without knowing their true value.  It didn’t take long for an item of immense value offering hours of untold pleasure was spotted.  There before us was a red flyer wagon.  Why would anyone part with a treasure like this?  Sure, the paint was less than pristine and the handle and front axle assembly had rusted off but didn’t every young boy know that you could hold the front up with your hands behind your back and pull it like a horse pulls a wagon or you could be a tractor pulling a load across the farm.  Even with all these great possibilities, there was something that made this a treasure of even greater magnitude.  This would be our third wagon.  You see we already had two such wagons, of the same condition, at home and now there would be one for each brother.  As we made our way back across the fields with our prize we stopped and there was a moment of realization that life could not get any better than this.  So, we each made a promise that we would never grow up so that those good times would always continue.  Needless to say, those promises went unkept, time and growth continued until now those boys are men with children and grandchildren of their own far remove from those grassy, treasure filled, fields in Oklahoma.  Quite often in life things do not turn out as we plan.  The unplanned things that cross our path in life range from the irritating minor things to things that are devastating and bring us to our knees.  It is not if we will be knocked to our knees in this life, it is a matter of when and how often.  We read about a young boy in Genesis 37 that seemed to have everything going his way.  Out of all his brothers, it was not a secret, he was his wealthy father’s favorite.  Even his clothing spoke of this favor.  I’m not sure what Joseph was thinking as he did his father’s biding and made his way across the country side to check on his brothers but I’m sure he wasn’t thinking that in a very short time he would be in the bottom of a pit listening to his brothers discuss whether he would live or die.  For many years to come Joseph’s life consisted of a series of pits.  I do not know if Joseph always understood way these pits were in his life but I do know that in his age he could see their purpose.  Many years remove he expressed it to his brothers like this, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Gen. 50: 20) My private prayers have often contained the words, “Lord I do not understand” and often with the passing of time I see his purpose.  I am not saying that we will understand the reason for all things in this life no more than I understood all things when I was a child but this I know, my father in heaven knows what I have need of and ask that I focus on him and not the pit that I may be in. Matt. 6:25-34, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  You may not be able to see the way out of the pit but God in heaven watches over his children.  He knows how deep your pit is and he also knows the way out. 

My youngest brother and my sister with one of our found treasures tied behind a bike.