Tired of living
in the city
where the pace
of life bothered
him, Jonah
decided to buy a
small farm in a
distant place to
live closer to
nature.
Soon there was a
man who offered
him a place at a
reasonable price
and with his
salesperson's
ability to
convince people
he said:
- My friend
Jonah! The farm
is a beauty, the
land is fertile
and cultivated!
You will not
need to take
anything,
because the
house is
furnished! You
get there, sell
the corn harvest
and start making
money. In
addition, you
may pay for the
farm with this
house you live
in plus over a
small lump sum.
Jonah, who had
some money saved
and delighted
with the
salesperson's
words, consulted
his wife, who
had heard the
conversation:
- What do you
think, Mary?
- I agree,
Jonah. I also
want to leave
this city where
there is no
peace anymore -
she replied.
So, with the
deal done, they
put some of
their things on
a cart and left
the rest in the
house, since
they would not
need them, and
left for the
farm that would
be their new
home. They were
happy and
excited.
Everything was a
novelty.
|
After some
difficulty in
finding the way,
they arrived at
the new
property. They
opened the gate
and entered,
walking a few
hundred meters
to get in front
of the house.
They unloaded
the cart and
left the horse
free to graze.
The next day,
excited, Jonah
and Mary went to
see their new
land. But, to
their
astonishment,
they found that
much of
|
the land
was
overrun
by
brambles.
There
was no
corn
field
and much
less
anything
to
harvest.
Or even
pasture
for the
horse. |
Jonah and Mary
began to cry.
How would they
survive? The
money they had
was little! It
was just enough
for them to
support
themselves in
the early days
until they sold
the farm
production. And
now what?
As Jonah was a
man of faith, he
invited Mary to
pray.
- Lord Jesus! We
know that each
one reaps what
they sow, and I
recognize that
we were not
cautious, making
a deal without
more
information.
However, You
told us also
that in the
field of the
Lord we would
find
difficulties,
setbacks, thorns
and weeds.
Therefore, we
ask for Your
help in this
hour, Lord! Show
us the way for
we do not know
what to do!
After the
prayer, they
went to rest.
The next day,
Jonah woke up
and went to the
field. He was
sure that the
Lord would help.
He walked a
little and a
thought popped
into his head:
Jesus faced all
His problems and
sacrificed
Himself for all
humanity,
leaving His
lessons of love,
work and
redemption.
Jonah ran back
to the house and
said to his
wife:
- Mary, in face
of the obstacles
that arise, we
cannot sit back
and be
discouraged.
Jesus was never
discouraged! We
need to act.
Thus, we will
work with
courage and
determination.
- But Jonah,
what about the
thorns?! ... -
the wife asked,
surprised.
- Mary, would
the Master be
discouraged with
thorns if He
wasn't by the
sufferings He
faced? So if
these are our
problems, we
face them. If
our land is
taken over by
brambles, we go
and root them
out! We will
till this hard
soil and
fertilize it
with our sweat
and tears.
Moreover, we can
always count on
some beneficial
rain falling
from the sky as
a divine
blessing. And
looking for it,
we can find a
water spring in
the woods to
help us in the
task of
improving the
land for
planting.
The husband
spoke with
bright eyes, and
the words spoken
enthusiastically
filled Mary with
a second wind.
At the same
time, both took
their hoes and
began the task
of clearing the
land.
Jonah still had
a little money
that he used to
buy some
essential foods
in the nearest
village and a
lot of corn,
which milled,
served to them
as food, and as
grains, served
for the horses
and for
planting.
|
|
Walking through
the farm, they
discovered a
crystalline
spring that ran
between rocks.
Carefully, they
opened a small
canal that took
the water to the
already cleared
land.
This way, they
threw the grains
on the ground,
covered them and
awaited
germination
while they cared
for another part
of the ground
that was still
full of thorny
brushes.
That week, as a
blessing from
above, a light
rain began to
fall. Soon, all
the land was
covered by
delicate green
seedlings that
would become
beautiful corn
stalks.
|
Some time later,
all the people
passing by the
road could see
the beautiful
cornfields that
stretched out of
sight.
Satisfied, Jonah
and Mary thanked
Jesus for the
blessings
received.
But, deep down
their hearts,
they also knew
that hadn't they
worked hard from
sunrise to
sunset, they
would
|
have
achieved
nothing,
for it
was the
Master
Himself
who
said: |
"Help thyself
and heaven will
help you."
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
13/05/2013.)