Fleming

This is a an old story I heard at church that is worth repeating.

"Fleming was a poor Scottish

farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his

family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby

bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog where he

found a young boy, mired to his waist in black muck,

screaming and struggling to free himself from what

could have been a slow and painful death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the

Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. It’s passenger was the

father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. The nobleman wanted to repay

Farmer Fleming for his kindness. Farmer Fleming

refused to accept anything. The nobleman saw famer

Fleming’s son and made the man a deal. He offered to

take the boy with him and educate him, just as he was

going to do for his own son. That is what he did.

Because of the nobleman’s generosity, Farmer Fleming

attended the very best school of his time. He graduated

from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London,

and went on to become known throughout the world as

Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.

Years later, the nobleman’s own son who was saved

from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved

his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the

nobleman? Sir Randolph Churchill. His son’s name?

Sir Winston Churchill.

Just remember, when you’re feeling down, every one of

us has that same kind of potential.

We had a situation this morning that reminded me of this mired in the bog story. One of our children's family has saved for two years for a cruise for their young family. The plane had a hole in it and couldn't be repaired in time for the flight and there was no other way to get to the cruise port with normal airflights. So they found an Air Tran special to the cruise port's airport and hopefully they will get there in time to board the cruise ship. It will be a terrible shame if they don't but I have to believe something good will come out of all this trouble and frustration this morning.

Every time I get down to grumpy I see a situation worse off then where I'm at and I need to pick myself up and just be grateful! This wheat field isn't perfect, it may not even be a money maker but it protected the soil from 30 plus inches of water since planting it to save that precious soil.

It's not easy to do everyday in every situation but it's the only thing that works and makes sense!

Ed