Have you ever heard the story of the
old farmer and his son? The farmer had worked in the fields for many years. One
day his horse ran away. When the neighbors heard the news, they came to find
out what happened. I don’t know if they were genuinely concerned or just curious.
They wanted to comfort the farmer and said, "Such bad luck,” The farmer
replied, "Who knows; we shall see."
The next morning, the horse
returned, bringing with him three other wild horses. The neighbors again heard
the news (I don’t even think they learned about this through Facebook or
Twitter but they came fast!). "How wonderful," the neighbors said.
"Who knows; we shall see." once again replied the old man.
The day after, the farmer’s son
tried to ride one of the wild horses. He was thrown from the horse and broke
his leg. The neighbors came over again to offer their sympathy on their seemingly
continuing bad luck. What do you think the farmer replied? You are correct! He
replied, "Who knows; we shall see."
A few days later, military
officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Since the son's
leg was broken, the son was not drafted. The neighbors attempted to celebrate
with the farmer given how things turned out. The response? "Who knows; we
shall see." said the farmer.
When we’ve had our fill of life
circumstances, we are usually quick to assume they are either blessings or
trials. At least I do. Even in the old “is the glass half full or half empty?”
question, we are tasked with making the decision one way or another. What would
happen if instead we replied, “Who knows; we shall see.”? What would happen if
we allowed some time to determine God’s response to a particular situation and
for Him to let us know His will throughout it?
As I think of the neighbors’ well-meaning
assumptions about the various circumstances the farmer and his son endured, I
think about how I assume blessings or trials on the “cups” of which other people
must partake. This is especially true when thinking about the life paths of my
own children and the decisions they must make. As I observe their “cup”, full
of opportunity and blessing, I often ignore that to them, the cup is full of
unknowns and bittersweet options. Their “cups runneth over” but I, even as a
mom, cannot say with certainty with what.
I may be thinking their
experience should be like David’s in Psalm 23:5 when David’s cup of blessings
and good things overflows, when in their reality, the experience is more like
Jesus’ experience asking the Father “if
it be possible, let this cup pass from Me” like we see in Matthew 26:39 and
Luke 22:42.
I am learning that I don’t always know best, but we can have assurance
that “in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”
(Romans 8:28 NIV). I am also confident that, no matter what the cup is filled
with, as we remain in God’s will He is faithful in providing the best options
and outcomes, so that we can endure any challenge (my paraphrase of I
Corinthians 10:13).
In the midst of any situation, I can say outwardly “Who knows; we shall
see?” Inwardly however, I can stand
confident knowing He already knows and He has the best solution with our best
interest in mind.
