Hay Day of My Life
Things started looking up
versión en español a continuación
We were all settled back into school. It was the second semester of our freshman year. It seemed abundantly clear that Mrs. Priss, Betty, had no interest in me.
I would later learn that after our first date, she wrote a letter to her mother. She mentioned that she had a date with a nice guy who was kind of a redneck.
Being a redneck, I didn't even know what that meant. I figured it meant macho, manly, rugged, outdoorsman. I just thought that those who weren't rednecks must be the girly guys with girly hands I met at college and in the city.
Remember the horse that separated us and got my rejections from the phone calls? Well, that horse "Calamity" turned out not to be a calamity for me.
Betty needed to get hay for her horse. Her "friend" Carter wasn't helping her move the hay. Now Carter, who I had seen as a "threat," quickly became an unwitting "ally." Since he wouldn't help, I got my shot at the "hay day of my life." Betty happened to know a "redneck" that could do all that a farm boy could do, ME!
She asked me if I would be willing to help her move some hay for her horse. Then if I wanted, we could ride a bit. I could ride Carter's horse while she rode her horse, Calamity.
Well, being desperate and all, I jumped at the opportunity. I went with Betty to help her move hay and ride the horse. She was so sweet and grateful for my help.
When no one else would help her, I had been her "hero!" Haha. I immensely enjoyed that time and figured I could use it to continue trying to impress this city girl.
I was very accustomed to animals, hay, and barns. I knew what to do and how to do it. So I became Betty's go-to guy to take care of her horse.
The question was, Am I being used, or is she actually showing some interest? You will find the answer in upcoming editions.
Think about the following. As I loved and trusted God, I believe He worked in my life. I would never have gone after a girl like Betty. Betty was way out of my league! But God gave us general interests. God made Betty shy and reticent. She wasn’t the life of the party, an outgoing girl, but God was at work.
I believe with all my heart that God touched Betty and prepared her to be my wife. I remember asking Him all the time to give me the exact girl He had for me. You can trust God with your most significant decisions.
Ask God to open your eyes to see the person for more than just the physical beauty. Look into their heart. See how Jesus ranks in her heart. The more I knew, I realized that she was a woman of God.
A lesson I learned and believe you can learn is that God is at work in your life. What may seem like mere coincidences to you may be the hand of God moving in your favor.
I know that you will seek God first and His kingdom. He will add all the things that any average person can want. That is precisely what Matthew 6:33 teaches us.
As parents, I believe you should be praying from before your children are born that God will work in their lives. I think that as you pray that God will save them and direct them, God will move. Many of us wait too late to pray. Remember you have not because you ask not.
Pray that God will give them His choice of a mate. Then show them what real love is between a godly man and wife. Do not live in bitterness and unforgiveness. Do not be gossipers and slanders. Remember, your children will be very much like you and what you model.
Let them know of your deep love for God and set the example of letting them know you are in the Word and prayer. Being in God’s house with God’s people is vital to you. Live a life of praise and gratitude.
Get the whole story
The Call 2
"The bro zone!" Like a brother 4
A Giant Heart 5
The tractor ride 6
Never Really Dated! 7
Shocked & Surprised 8
Good News 9
Finding an acorn 10
Scared my dad! 11
Send that hillbilly hiking 12
Who's chasing who? 13
Betty meets my grandmother 14
Reckless Redneck 16
Honeymoon 17
Separated for the first time 18
We are going to make it 19
A Mother's Jealousy 22
My sister wanted to marry me 23
Holidays as a Married Couple 24
"Baby Fever" Hits 25
We held Willie B. at gunpoint till the cops arrived 28
God's Calling on our Lives 31
First Attempts at Soul Winning Evangelism 32
Proud Dad 33
A Tale of Mice and Women 38
A daughter is born 40
Thrills and pain of being a dad 41
I needed a mentor 42
Childish, even Foolish, Simple, Faith 44
Young, foolish, reckless faith and ministry 45
IRS problems and answers to prayer and fasting 46
His Strength in My Weakness 47
Joy comes into our lives 48
Angel Unaware 49
Wife, you make all the difference 51
God will prepare you to do His will 52
Todos estábamos acomodados en la escuela. Era el segundo semestre de nuestro primer año. Parecía muy claro que la Señorita Adinerada, Betty, no tenía ningún interés en mí.
Más tarde supe que después de nuestra primera cita, ella le escribió una carta a su madre. Mencionó que tenía una cita con un buen chico que era una especie de campesino sureño.
Siendo un campesino sureño, ni siquiera sabía lo que eso significaba. Supuse que significaba macho, varonil, rudo, amante de la naturaleza. Simplemente pensé que aquellos que no eran paletos debían ser los chicos femeninos con manos femeninas que conocí en la universidad y en la ciudad.
¿Recuerdas el caballo que nos separó y recibió mis rechazos de las llamadas telefónicas? Bueno, ese caballo "Calamidad" resultó no ser una calamidad para mí.
Betty necesitaba conseguir heno para su caballo. Su "amigo" Carter no la estaba ayudando a mover el heno. Ahora Carter, a quien había visto como una "amenaza", rápidamente se convirtió en un "aliado" involuntario. Como él no le ayudó, tuve mi oportunidad de ser el "héroe de su vida". Betty justo conocía a un "campesino" que podía hacer todo lo que un granjero podía hacer, ¡YO!
Me preguntó si estaría dispuesto a ayudarla a mover heno para su caballo. Entonces, si quisiera, podríamos cabalgar un poco. Podría montar el caballo de Carter mientras ella montaba su caballo, Calamity.
Bueno, estando desesperado y todo, aproveché la oportunidad. Fui con Betty para ayudarla a mover el heno y montar el caballo. Ella fue tan dulce y agradecida por mi ayuda.
Cuando nadie más la ayudó, yo había sido su "héroe". Ja ja. Disfruté inmensamente ese tiempo y pensé que podría usarlo para seguir tratando de impresionar a esta chica de la ciudad.
Estaba muy acostumbrado a los animales, el heno y los graneros. Sabía qué hacer y cómo hacerlo. Así que me convertí en el hombre a quien Betty podía acudir para cuidar de su caballo.
La pregunta era: ¿Estoy siendo utilizado o ella realmente tiene algún interés? Encontrará la respuesta en las próximas ediciones.
Una lección que aprendí y creo que puedes aprender es que Dios está obrando en tu vida. Lo que para ti pueden parecer meras coincidencias puede ser la mano de Dios moviéndose a tu favor.
Sé que buscarás primero a Dios y su reino. Él agregará todas las cosas que cualquier persona promedio puede desear. Eso es precisamente lo que nos enseña Mateo 6:33.
Como padres, creo que deben orar desde antes de que nazcan sus hijos para que Dios obre en sus vidas. Creo que mientras oras para que Dios los salve y los dirija, Dios obrará. Muchos de nosotros esperamos demasiado tarde para orar. Recuerda que no tienes porque no pides.
Ore para que Dios les dé Su elección de pareja. Luego muéstreles lo que es el verdadero amor entre un hombre y una esposa piadosos. No vivas en la amargura y la falta de perdón. No Sean chismosos y calumniadores. Recuerde, sus hijos serán muy parecidos a usted y a lo que modele.
Hágales saber de su profundo amor por Dios y dé el ejemplo de hacerles saber que está en la Palabra y la oración. Estar en la casa de Dios con el pueblo de Dios es vital para ti. Vive una vida de alabanza y gratitud.
