This is Good
The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close
friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of
looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life
(positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting
expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for
the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in
preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his
friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.
Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This
is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!"
and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year
later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have
known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took them
to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood,
set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near
to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was
missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone
that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him
on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had
taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his
friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his
friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my
thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend
all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for
sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do
this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean,
'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend
to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
"And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to His
purpose." (Rom. 8:28)
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in
them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and
live our lives according to His precepts, even that which
seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His
glory and our benefit. Hold on, God is faithful! May God
bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Thanks to Sherry M. Keith-Rudd SMKeith@aol.com