Recently I mentioned an article about “The Farmer’s Son: Fortune or Misfortune?” which asks us to consider if things that happen are either good or bad. The following is a portion of the article for your consideration.

“One day in late summer, an old farmer was working in his field with his old sick horse. The Farmer felt compassion for the horse and   desired to lift it’s burden. So he let his horse loose to go to the mountains and live out the rest of it’s life.

Soon after, neighbors from the nearby village visited offering their condolences and said, ‘What a shame. Now your only horse is gone. How unfortunate you are. You must be very sad. How will you live, work the land, and prosper?’ The farmer replied: ‘Who knows? We shall see.’

Two days later the old horse came back now rejuvenated after meandering in the mountainside while eating the wild grasses. He came back with twelve new younger and healthy horses which followed the old horse into the corral. Word got out in the village of the old farmer’s good fortune and it wasn’t long before people stopped by to congratulate the farmer on his good luck. ‘How fortunate you are’ They exclaimed. ‘You must be very happy.’ Again, the farmer softly said, ‘Who knows? We shall see.’

At daybreak on the next morning, the farmer’s only son set off to attempt to train the new wild horses, but the farmer’s son was thrown to the ground and broke his leg. One by one villagers arrived during the day to bemoan the farmer’s latest misfortune. ‘Oh, what a tragedy. Your son won’t be able to help you farm with a broken leg. You’ll have to do all the work yourself. How will you survive? You must be very sad’ they said. Calmly going about his usual business, the farmer answered, ‘Who knows? We shall see.’ ”

The point of the story – according to the commentary – “every event is part of a larger whole.” It goes on to ask, “How often do we take into consideration the whole picture?”

I would add that the goal should be for us to grow to consider ALL things are for His glory and also work for our good. If we would   apply Romans 8:28 “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” we would certainly honor God and His Word.

For His Glory Alone,   Pastor Bryan