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WITandWISDOM(tm) – October 24, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams Source: Quotes of the Day, http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: One fall afternoon on our rural farm in southeast Iowa, we were I enjoying perfect weather as we harvested our hay. Cotton ball clouds floated high in the clear blue sky, a gentle breeze slowly escorting them toward the horizon. The trees, just starting their fall picture show, stood here and there in the valleys and fence lines across rolling hills. The past couple days had not been easy ones. When our 50 acres of hay were mowed, the mower had needed a few new parts. That cost us all our extra cash. When the field had been raked, the universal joint went out on the rake, finishing off any funds we might have kept in our bank account. I was more than a little apprehensive as we walked out to get the baler ready. My husband, Jack, seemed to be frantically searching for something when I joined him at the tractor. "What's the problem?" I asked. "The three-point hitch to hook the baler to the tractor is missing," he replied. "Where did you put it?" I reluctantly asked. "In the tractor toolbox; the lid must have flopped open while I was raking the hay," he replied as he stared out into the field. I forced myself to stay calm as I asked, "How big is this part? And how much would it cost to replace it?" I didn't like his reply. "It's a metal piece about a half inch thick and five inches long by about two inches wide. It would cost a lot to replace," he finally added. Discouragement flooded my being as I thought about that small part being somewhere out there in that 50 acres of raked hay. Most likely it had been raked into one of the rows. Finding it would be like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. And there was no way we could borrow enough money to buy a new one. We were nearly destitute. How could we harvest the hay crop in order to receive money desperately needed to feed and clothe our family? So many farmers had gone under in the past few years. Farming was not fun for me. Some days it seemed to bring only disappointment and grief. I felt anger inside me raging like a monster, demanding to be released, I was angry at Jack for putting the part in that old toolbox with the floppy lid, and I was angry at God. By now the kids had come to see what the problem was. After a brief explanation I told them to start walking and look for a metal part. "I'm going to the house to get the pickup so you kids can ride on the tailgate and look for that part," I told them. I stormed off. If the ground shook, it was probably my fault. I muttered to myself all the way to the house. "God, this is Your fault. You just don't care about farmers. You don't care about us!" Then I sheepishly looked up into the sky thinking lightning would strike any moment. As I gazed up I said, "I'm sorry, God. I'm mad. You know how I feel; I can't lie. I know I'm not supposed to be, but I'm mad at You." I kept stomping across the field, muttering all the way to the house, where the pickup was parked. I slammed the door as I climbed in and started the engine. I backed up and stomped on the accelerator as I steered the pickup out into the field. It didn't matter to me where in the field I went; I just headed out there somewhere near the middle and slammed on the brakes. I opened the door and yelled at the kids to climb on. As I glanced down I saw a small metal part lying on the open ground between the hay rows. I would have stepped on it if I hadn't seen it first. It was the three-point hitch! It was the needle in the haystack. Only God could have led me to that exact spot. I can't describe how I felt. My emotions did an about-face, and I just cried. God showed me such boundless love and care. I felt so humbled. I didn't deserve this kindness after the way I had acted. I humbly walked back to the house sobbing under the weight of God's love. Many years later that day is still etched in my memory, one of the most significant memories of what God has done for me. That day God put His signature on my life. Now when discouragement comes my way, I remember how God showed me, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He loves and cares about me. By Margaret Butler who lives near Keokuk, Iowa. Submitted by Mary ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Quotes of the Day The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it. - Doug Larson I was walking down the street wearing glasses when the prescription ran out. - Steven Wright If you live to be one hundred, you've got it made. Very few people die past that age. - George Burns Television is a new medium. It's called a medium because nothing is well-done. - Fred Allen, on the radio program The Big Show, Dec. 17, 1950 Source: Quotes of the Day, http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: As a C-130 Pilot in the Air National Guard, I drive to my base several times a month for practice flights, wearing my flight suit. On the way home late one night, my car's engine quit, and I coasted to a stop within sight of an isolated farmhouse. When I knocked on the door, a young woman answered. "I was on my way home from the Guard air base, but ran out of gas," I explained, holding up a one-gallon gas can to make my predicament clear. "May I use your telephone?" The woman stared at my flight suit and stammered, "But where did you land?" Contributed to "Humor In Uniform" by Maj. Stephen K. Robison Source: Laughter for a Saturday mailto:ed548@yahoo.com?subject=Subscribe_to_Laughter_for_a_Saturday ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: The Centers for Disease Control statistics compiled as recently as 2002 revealed that 25% of people age 60 and older have lost all of their natural teeth. Source: USA Weekend, October 19-21, 2007, http://usaweekend.com