“It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Can’t tell you how many times I heard my dad tell me that growing up. And it has been proven to me many times in my adult years.
Like the time Grandma’s Kitchen left my hamburger and shake waiting on the picnic table outside for me after they had closed for the evening, with my name on the sack! The amount due was written in black marker, and I just slipped the amount due inside their door.
Or the time I pulled up in front of Mavis Schipper’s variety store and she was outside sweeping the sidewalk. She stopped me and told me she had some pictures for me. Someone had found the roll of film on the street, took it to her, and she had it developed. When she looked at the returned photographs, she knew right away that they were mine.
Another time I finished checking out at Maynards, and realized I had no more check blanks. In the days before debit cards, I took my groceries home and returned the next day with the payment.
On the occasion that I was traveling a little too fast on the outskirts of Worthington. The highway patrol walked up to my open window, and upon looking at me said, “ Linda, you need to slow down today! Don’t be in such a hurry.” As I waited for the bad news, instead he told me to drive safely home and to keep an eye on the speedometer. My heart was thankful indeed!
Too many times to mention these times have happened to our children and to Dan and me with job opportunities, and daily experiences that came our way. Even the purchase of our farm and home that came “out of the blue” from a friend that we didn’t even know had a farm to sell.
It happened to me again last week on Columbus Day. I drove to Fulda for the purpose of filling the almost empty car with fuel. And I needed to purchase a gallon of bleach for the milking parlor. Oh, and I was delivering a bushel of ear corn to a friend to feed her squirrels! As I drove up to the pump and went to get the debit card, I realized I had not grabbed my purse before I left. A dilemma.
As I thought about what to do, I delivered the box of corn to my friend, Lucy. She gave me $ 4.00 in exchange. She and I laughed about my problem, and I told her I was off to the bank for some cash.
I drove up to the drive-up window, only to find it dark and empty. Good grief, it quickly hit me that it was a legal holiday, and I wasn’t going to get any help there! That is when my dad’s words came to me once again. Who do I know that could lend me enough for a few gallons of gas?
Now I know many people in Fulda, and probably many of them would have helped me if they had known. But as I rounded the corner by the Free Press, I saw my sister-in-law, Norma’s car. I stopped and went in to see her, announcing that I needed a saviour. She got a puzzled look on her face and asked what was wrong. When I explained my predicament, she laughed and grabbed for her purse. However she said she did not have cash and would have to write me a check. Well, since there was no bank open for me to cash it, we decided she had better write it to the gas station. After all the rigmarole, I took the check, filled my car, and was relieved when the cashier accepted it for my payment. Even though it did not have my name on it!
When I returned uptown to get the bleach, I was excited to have the four dollars in cash to get that. It wasn’t quite enough, so I bought a half gallon instead. Plenty for that day. I drove home smiling about the craziness of the morning, but thankful for friends and God’s watch care even over the simplest of problems.
Then I thought once again about my dad’s statement. It was humbling to realize that it is not only true in this earthly life, but certainly in our spiritual one. In order to have eternal life, Jesus tells us that we can only get to the Heavenly Father through Him, Jesus, God’s son. We have to know Him. Not about Him, but really know Him! Jesus says, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.” John 14:6 My prayer is that you not only know about Him, but truly know Him and spend time with Him, through his written word and in prayer. God bless!
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