Wally stood in the midst...
Illustration
Wally stood in the midst of his cornfield in disbelief. The night before, a thunderstorm
had flattened his crop. Looking out over the field, he estimated that at least 75 percent
had been destroyed. He did not know what he and his family would do. It was too late in
the season to plant another crop. Farming was hard enough but now that he had lost most
of his income potential, he did not know what would happen to them.
That fall, people from church began bringing them food; a family bought clothing for the children so that they would have new clothes for the new school year. Wally was never one to accept charity and felt uncomfortable but really had no other alternative. The love and generosity of others softened Wally's heart that winter.
The next spring, Wally planted his crops, thankful for the help his family had received and also hopeful that this crop would be profitable. That summer was his best crop ever. The ears of corn were full. God had indeed blessed them. Wally wanted to do something for all the people who helped him. Late that summer, the church held a picnic where everyone enjoyed fresh corn on the cob from Wally's field. Wally's generosity did not end there; he would volunteer to help other people when needs presented themselves.
The prophet Joel reminds people of faith, "Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!"
That fall, people from church began bringing them food; a family bought clothing for the children so that they would have new clothes for the new school year. Wally was never one to accept charity and felt uncomfortable but really had no other alternative. The love and generosity of others softened Wally's heart that winter.
The next spring, Wally planted his crops, thankful for the help his family had received and also hopeful that this crop would be profitable. That summer was his best crop ever. The ears of corn were full. God had indeed blessed them. Wally wanted to do something for all the people who helped him. Late that summer, the church held a picnic where everyone enjoyed fresh corn on the cob from Wally's field. Wally's generosity did not end there; he would volunteer to help other people when needs presented themselves.
The prophet Joel reminds people of faith, "Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!"
