“Come here for a minute,” my husband said. “I need your help. But be careful. I could get killed doing this.”
“What kind of man says this to his wife?”
“I need you to push a lever on the tractor.”
On the way to his workshop, I remembered the day he said we needed a tractor.
Fourteen years ago.
Right before we moved into our log cabin.
I thought a tractor was just an expensive toy.
We argued about it.
He won.
“Okay,” he said. “Listen. Here’s what I want you to do.”
I leaned in so I could hear over the sound of the tractor. “This scares me. You know that, don’t you?”
“We need to move this engine. It’s heavy.”
“I can’t help you. I don’t do things like that.”
“The tractor’s going to do the hard work.”
“I can’t drive a tractor.”
“All you have to do is move this black lever. And listen to me.”
I stared at the yellow “caution” sign and wondered if I should run get the neighbor next door, but I didn’t have time.
Rick moved like a surgeon spreading out his instruments–only I was still wide awake.
If I mess up, how will you die?
What if the lever gets stuck?
How hard do I have to push?
Will you tell me when to stop–or am I just supposed to know when you’re finished?
If you can’t see the video below, click here.
I climbed on.
“Now,” he said. “Push.”
Gripping the black lever, I pressed it down. The engine slowly dropped.
“Okay. Let off.”
I did.
“Good job.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling very proud of myself. “Any time.” I hopped off like I knew what I was doing.
Walking toward the house, I watched my husband of 38 years.
He looked kinda cute on the loud, green machine I thought we didn’t need.
Back then, I had no idea that every few days, he’d have to smooth out the gravel driveway with the tractor blade. Especially after a hard rain.
Or that every spring, the tractor would help plow the garden.
I didn’t know tractors were like elephants that lifted heavy equipment with their trunks.
Then something beautiful occurred to me.
Although I knew nothing about tractors, my husband did.
Sort of like our Heavenly Father.
God peers up the road and sees what’s ahead. Then He prepares the way. Click to tweet.
I will go before you and make rough places smooth, Isaiah 45:2.
Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns?
I’m praying the tractor will remind us to trust God. He sees. He understands.
For more about our tractor, read Young Love and a John Deere Tractor.
Love,
Julie
