God Knows Best....
By Catalina MageeInspired by an old Chinese fable.
Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had worked many crops with his loving horse for many years.
One day, a rich man offers him a lot of money for his horse. The farmer refuses politely,
but the neighbors tell him:” Are you crazy? It’s just a horse. With that money, you can buy three of them.”
“God knows best,” the farmer replied.
The next day, his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.
“Such bad luck,” they sadly said. “You must be so sad. You should’ve accepted the money from the rich man.”
“Such bad luck,” they sadly said. “You must be so sad. You should’ve accepted the money from the rich man.”
“God knows best,” the farmer replied.
“God knows best,” the farmer replied.
The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it five wild horses.
“How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed! “Not only did your horse return, but you received five more. What great fortune you have!”
“God knows best,” answered the farmer.
The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg.
The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, but was thrown, and broke his leg.
The neighbors again came to say how sorry they were.
“Now your son cannot help you with your farming,” they said. “What terrible luck you have!”
“God knows best,” answered the farmer.
The following week, military officials came to the village to take young men to war. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by.
The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “Such great news. You must be so happy!”
“God knows best,” answered the farmer.
The king hears about the farmer and how positive he always is, so he ordered to have the farmer brought to him.
“You must be so happy! You’ll get to live in a castle and hang out with the king. What a fortune,” said the neighbors. But the farmer responded with :”God knows best!”
Once the farmer arrived at the castle, the king invited other guests to a feast.
“You must be so important, since the king hosts a feast during war,” say the village people.
“I don’t know, but God knows best,” says the farmer.
During the feast, the king vents about his swords to the guests, and accidentally cuts off four fingers.
During the feast, the king vents about his swords to the guests, and accidentally cuts off four fingers.
“God knows best,” says the farmer to the king.
“God knows best,” says the farmer to the king.
Hearing that, the king got furious and threw the farmer in jail. Once the village heard of what happened, they said: “Poor farmer is in jail. How sad he must be!” But the farmer was smiling and calmly said: “God knows best.”
One day, the war ended, and the king went hunting in a foreign land with his closest soldiers.
In the forest, a tribe attacked them, and took all the soldiers to perform heavy labor. They left the king alone since he was missing four fingers and could not be of much use.
That is when the king looked at his hand and said: ”The farmer was right. God does know best. If I still had my fingers, I would’ve been a slave now.”
Immediately, the king runs back to his castle to free the farmer from jail. “I’m so sorry for locking you up all this time,” says the king.
“God knew best then and always knows best,” says the farmer. “If you wouldn’t have locked me up then, I would’ve been with you, and the tribe would’ve taken me as well.”
Moral of the story: Life is full of ups and downs. There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Leave it all in God’s hands, because He knows best. Many times, what looks like a setback, may be a gift in disguise. And what may look like a blessing, could also be a setback. Don’t get overly happy or too sad, but instead, be consistent, steady, and keep your faith.