Most of my summers in Kansas, in my teen years from 13 to almost 18, were spent hauling hay. Literally from first thing in the morning, often until midnight. Yeah, I was in hot Kansas fields bucking bales up on to hay trucks.
Now, keep in mind, I was basically a city boy all during the nine months of school. It wasn’t like I was working on a farm year ’round and staying in shape for that kind of work. Quite the opposite. During the school year I worked on physically challenging chores like vocal practice for choir. Or helping to decide which band to book for the prom. Maybe I’d have to actually help move sets around for the play I was in. You know, tough stuff. Not for the faint of heart. So…
Summer in Kansas can get mighty hot.
So, “let us not grow weary” had a special meaning for me.
I remember one particularly hot day, in a field of about 1200 bales of alfalfa. That’s where I said a prayer under my breath. “Lord, help me not to tire out in front of these country boys.” Because the guys I worked with were mostly all from Kansas farms where they lived year ’round. They were used to the work. I’m sure it was still hard work for them too, especially as I think back on it now. But they moved bales of hay around even during the winter to feed the livestock. Most of them weren’t choir boys, or drama class actors, or senior class officers. Just hard workin’ Kansas boys.
OK, back to that alfalfa field.
If you’ve never been around bales of alfalfa hay, just know, they’re way scruffy. They can wear out the fronts of brand new heavy-duty jeans in a matter of days. And they’ll scratch your forearms till they look like you had a run-in with a cat.
Now, imagine riding a hay truck (with no air conditioning) up to the gate of a field of 1200 of those demon bales. And imagine doing that on a 100 degree day with no shade trees. And imagine working for a beer-guzzling wild man who often forgot to bring water for the crews.
Well, that’s where I was that day when I whispered that prayer under my breath. And guess what?! God, as He always does, answered my prayer. He gave me strength, stamina, courage, and determination. Day after day. Week after week. And summer after summer.
With God, all things are possible.
It was many years later I discovered I was born with a deformed heart. Good thing I didn’t know that when I was a teenager, or I might have skipped the prayer for strength. Because I probably wouldn’t have done a job like hay hauling. And I might not have believed God could get me through those long, hot days with a less than perfect heart. Odd how that works, isn’t it.
That’s why it’s important to remember to lean on the Lord for your strength. Not yourself. And don’t grow weary while doing good. Because the world is full of evil people who’d love to see you give up. Even if you never haul hay all summer in Kansas. Yeah, remember this wherever you are…
If you faint or fall, don’t give up.
For the source of strength, just look up.
When you let Him, God helps you up.
Don’t give up, just look up, and stay up.
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