03/30/2015
We all learned a spiritual lesson on the farm yesterday.
My two boys, the farmer's wife, and the farmer's granddaughters were in the barn exploring. The kids were playing on giant round hay bales. As they were jumping from bale to bale, my sons each fell into a hole that was made between four round bales. My 6-year-old was able to scamper out, and was soon off playing with the girls again. My 4-year-old was in a hole so tight and deep that he could not get out. The farmer's wife ran back to the house to get help. When my husband heard what happened, his daddy's heart sprang into action. He ran to the barn where he says he could not see his son. However, he heard the panicked cry and followed the sound to where he finally saw the dirty, tear-stained face looking up at him. With a strong pull he had his son out of that hole and in his arms. What a relief for a little 4-year-old boy to be rescued by his strong, loving father.
And what a picture for all of us, when we get stuck in a hole like that. There is no way to get out on our own strength, so all we can do is cry out and wait for our loving Father to get us out.
It was also a lesson for my 6-year-old son. Once he was free, he went off to play with no concern for his brother who was screaming in fear. We have given him a lesson on the importance of staying with his brother and comforting him until help arrives. And we should do that with each other. Sometimes we see a friend stuck in a "hole" (or problem) and we cannot get them out either. But we can stay beside them, pray with them, and comfort them as they wait for their Father's provision. My little son would have been less panicked if he knew his big brother was waiting by his side. And we all would have less cause to worry if we knew there were friends crying out to the Father with us, sitting up there on the hay bales telling the Father where to find the one who has fallen.
The dirt and barn smell has been washed out of the children's play clothes, but I hope the lessons learned will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
