My cousin, Larry Henderson, still works the land in western North Dakota where our families homesteaded about 100 years ago. Things are a bit different than they were back then. Instead of several families sharing a grainery for a house, as they did that first winter, Larry and his family enjoy the warmth of a modest home with all the modern conveniences. One thing hasn't changed, however; Larry is still totally dependant on God and the weather to make his crops grow.
Last year began with a drought that carried over from the year before. In faith, Larry planted seeds wondering if anything would happen. To his surprise, there was enough residual moisture in the ground for the seeds to germinate. But, when the new wheat shoots began to grow, there was no rain to sustain them.
A neighboring farmer came by one day, as neighboring farmers often do, to see how the crops were doing down the road. His comment was, "It's drying out down there. It doesn't look that great." Larry admittedly agreed.
As the warm and windy days passed, and still no rain, he became more concerned. Little Josie must have read the worry in her daddy's face, because one morning she came up to him with her Bible in hand and said, “Daddy, I want to share this with you.” She then read Proverbs 3:9,10.
The Message says, “Honor GOD with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.”
Larry realized he needed his little daughter's simple, childlike faith. It wasn't his job to worry—regardless of the outcome. He decided to remain faithful and trust God to take care of his family.
Without any rain, and much to his surprise, the crops continued to grow. Then one morning, he awoke to a nice steady rain that lasted for ten days. The young plants soaked it in.
Once again, the neigboring farmer came by to see. "Looks like your crops might make it after all," he said matter-of-factly. "Don't know if mine will. The rain stopped before it got to my property."
Gary Burns is the Lake Union Herald editor.
