The very next day the farmer was in his field when he looked up on the hill beyond and saw his beautiful white stallion. Behind his beautiful white stallion were four more white stallions just as beautiful as his. All the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "It's a good thing you didn't trade your beautiful white stallion for a quarter of the king's kingdom, as now you have FIVE beautiful white stallions. You could probably get half of the king's kingdom now!" The farmer said, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is I now have five beautiful white stallions."
The very next day the farmer's son was breaking in one of the wild white stallions when he was thrown from the stallion and broke both of his legs. So now, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "What a bad thing that has happened to you. You need your son to work in the fields and now he can't as he has two broken legs." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is that my son has two broken legs."
The very next day the kingdom goes to war and all the able-bodied men are drafted into the army after which they will go to the front end and they will surely die. The farmer's injured son could not go as he had two broken legs. So, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "That is a good thing that your son was thrown from the wild white stallion and broke both his legs, as he would have been drafted into the army, been sent to the front end and would have surely died." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is my son can't go as he has two broken legs."
The moral of the story is that we are not to judge what is occurring in our life as "good" or "bad", but to have faith and trust in God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.Written by Armand
Thank you for the story. I remember when I first got into AA and quickly realized honesty (or lack there of) was an issue for me. So in the spirit of honesty, I told my then partner I was an alcoholic. My partner got scared and let the Company backing us know I was alcoholic. I got removed from the business pretty fast in short order. I thought the gates of hell dropped on my head. But it gave me time to focus on getting sober. In retrospect, what a gift! I was given the time to work on my real problem while staying sobet. Kinda like the boy who broke his legs. God only lets me see one step ahead of where I currently stand. I know I couldnt handle seeing the entire trip because I would definitely try and change my final destination. Although not perfectly, I try to "accept the things I cannot change and change the things I can" with serenity, courage and wisdom.
ReplyDeletejim thanks for sharing your experience. Kindly use that experience to help others...Thank you...Armand
Deletermand,
ReplyDeleteThis is truly one of the most miraculous apprehensions of deep faith and humility that can be acquired. Resting in the absolute understanding that Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose," is the cornerstone upon which experiential serenity is constructed. Many thanks for once again teasing this topic to life.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic a life lived trusting in God is a life worth living...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThank you for the story upon which I've reflected on many occasions over the past several years. The moral, as you clearly state, requires a level of trust previously unavailable to me. Trust, I've learned in the program of recovery, brings many practical/everyday assets to the fore in a recovering alcoholic. Patience, tolerance, calm-amidst-the-storm, gratitude, and awareness. Each of these is personified in the certain and fearless composure of the farmer who, while presented with seeming circumstantial conflict was free of conflict in his thoughts. What an invaluable lesson for all! Pertinent to this specific week of the year, a long-ago sponsor once explained to me that the Easter week mystery of the crucifixion represents the absolute apex of grace under fire. The gift of grace is abundant to anyone who incorporates The Steps into one's life until, through that grace, a new life is awakened.
ReplyDeleteMichael love what you shared about the manifestation in our lives from trust in God...Thank you...Armand
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