"it is good to wait quietly..." Lamentations 3:26
During my growing up years, my mother lived with the conviction that her son needed to stay busy with work. I don't think she was aware of the saying that an 'idle life can be the devil's playground', but she certainly believed in that principle. I wouldn't be surprised if she knew Prov. 22:15 that 'folly is bound up in the heart of a child.' So, she came up with lots of things for me to do.
We owned a small chicken ranch of 5,000 hens, and about 2 acres of orange trees (Anaheim, Ca many years ago). We did not have money for music lessons to take care of spare hours, so I picked up eggs every day and then cleaned them and sorted them into appropriate sizes for a wholesale company. We did not own a tractor, so she 'encouraged' me to keep the orchard weed free by a unique hand hoe. There was irrigation and lots of shoveling to do - beginning at 3 am. UGH. This continued into my college years as many part time jobs filled my life and paid the bills for living and tuition.
I had friends who seemed to have it a lot easier than I did. Some played games, others watched TV, and in high school there was surfing to learn at Huntington Beach. I was jealous and envious. I resented that I was tied to do chores, work and earn a living.. Why could I not have it like my friends?
It was in my college years that I had a change of heart. I found Lam. 3:25-27 “THE LORD IS GOOD TO THOSE WAIT FOR HIM, TO THE SOUL WHO SEEKS HIM. IT IS GOOD THAT ONE SHOULD WAIT QUIETLY FOR THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN THAT HE BEAR THE YOKE IN HIS YOUTH.” I could not understand why it would be good for me to bear a yoke of work in my youth. It tied me down. It was hard at times. It was inconvenient. And worst of all, it interfered with my desires of wanting to be with my friends. I remember thinking, "Tis better be true for my life, because it sure is hard on me" It was hard to "waste" time with all the demands and responsibilities.
As I reflect on my early days, I have to say: God was right and good in having me wear a yoke in my youth. I learned responsibility, accountability, self-reliance, doing what I did not feel like doing, delayed gratification, and work first and then play---not the other way around. Thank You Lord, for being so wise in my youth. AND being wise in all the decades of my life. Amen
