Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On: Week Twenty-four

"Behold! Children are an inheritance from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. The glory of children is their father." Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 17:6

My little brother Willie just gloried in my father. Dad often went out on his D-9 Caterpillar to level land, root out sagebrush for hay land or build irrigation ditches and ponds. When Willie could barely walk, he would rush to the milk separator where Dad poured in big, shiny buckets of milk and watched as the cream separated from 'no fat milk' which was fed to the hogs. 

As he grew older, Willie followed to the milk barn. As Dad was milking, Willie ran, squatted, looked up at Dad and asked, "Are you going with the Cat tomorrow?" YEAH. "Can I go with you?" NO. Willie made no comment, but ran to see whatever other exciting things were going on in the milk barn. Calves to feed, cats slurping up warm milk, pushing hay into the stalls, clearing manure, etc.

Willie, undaunted, returned a second time, with the same question and the same gruff answers. A third time, Willie ran up to Dad, squatted and looked up, "If I can't go on the Cat, tomorrow, will you bring me some rat eggs?" YEAH. 

What?! I waited to see what would take place. 

Next morning, Willie observed as Dad separated, enjoyed breakfast with him and watched Dad, and the Cat, disappear over the hill. After lunch, Willie brought me an old cigar box and explained, "I put my rat eggs here." About 4:30 the Cat rumbled back into the yard and Willie rushed to the door, cigar box in hand. Dad came in and handed Willie 5 smooth, black and white granite rocks. Willie gently placed them in his cigar box to 'take safely' to his room.

I had witnessed a father's love for his son in a unique and wonderful way. Willie left this life at the tender age of 53, and his 'rat eggs' were displayed, in their cigar box, at his memorial service and are now entrusted to Willie's sons J.R. and Jonathan. Today, at the ranch, no matter the size of the black and white granite rock, we note that it is a 'rat egg' and remember love is a many splendored thing.

Abraham, the Father of Faith was chosen by God because he would teach his children. The Apostle Paul put it this way, "My beloved son, though you might have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ (Messiah) Jesus, I have begotten you!" I Corinthians 4:14-16. Friends, let us be aware that God cannot act until we believe, follow, walk, witness and work God's great goodness for "these are the days of Elijah when the heart of the father is turned toward the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:6

Next Week: That's Him!