Lost and Foun

 


Shouldn’t have done it.  Knew better.  But “want to get this done” took over.  This pasture needs mowing, and I want to finish it today. 

My tractor wouldn’t work.  How can I get this done?  Oh yeah, borrow my friend’s tractor.  He said, “Just come and get it anytime.”  He’s gone for a few days.  Why not?  Because he is a picky-picky about stuff, guaranteed to find something you did to his tractor you shouldn’t have.  The offer was a trap, and you know it.  But he’s not home.  And you need to get this pasture mowed.  I just couldn’t seem to help myself.  I was incensed to get that pasture mowed today or that night, as it was getting late.

So I drove over to his place about five miles away.  I started his tractor up and drove it to my place.  I noticed the key was a little loose in the ignition, but it seemed to be holding up well. 

It was just getting dark when I started mowing.  The grass was high, and it took longer than I thought. It was late when I got through. But I got it finished. Great!  But when I went to turn the tractor off, no key in the ignition.  Somewhere in that four to five acres of mowed grass was the tractor key.  Now I’ve done it. I knew better.  I shouldn’t have done it. The mowing of the pasture didn’t seem quite as important now.  God help me here.

I walked the pasture with a light, trying to find my needle in a haystack, so to speak.  My new dog trudged alone with me. A friend had given me this runt of a mutt.  People seem to think just because you live in the country, you need a dog. This dog wasn’t all that bright.  Commands like sit, come here, whatever, all met with the same response. He just looked at you and wagged his tail.  He his under the house when folks drove up, so watchdog was not his talent. I had no idea what I was going to do with this worthless dog.  But, tonight he was company following me all over that pasture looking for that key.  At least he was good for something.

We walked for probably a couple of hours looking for that key to no avail. OK, I’ll look for it again tomorrow in the light, and if I can’t find it, I’ll have to face the music with my friend when he comes home. 

During all this searching, I stopped and prayed several times, sometimes aloud, that I was sorry I was so impulsive and stupid, I knew better, and I am sorry. Lord, please help me find that key. The dog always thought I was talking to him when I prayed aloud, and he would wag his tail and look all happy. 

We walked to the house, and when I got in the yard, I rethought some things about that dog.  He wasn’t the smartest dog in the woods, but by golly, he was faithful and stuck it out on a bad night for me, when I needed a little company. I turned around to pet that dog for the first time ever.  There this dog stood wagging his tail with the tractor key in his mouth. My prayers had been answered in a miraculous manner.  What were the odds?  I prayed aloud again, thanking God for the dog finding those keys, and asked for help in quelling my impulsive, prideful behavior in the future. 

I don’t understand it.  But, I don’t have to.  I was so grateful for that dog doing God’s work for me on a bad night.  And I am grateful for the humbling experience and all it taught me.

God is still molding me, shaping me with trials, bad decisions, and terrible mistakes.  Yes, the dog had found a home.

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