On The Right Path

On The Right Path...6-24-25

My father-in-law, Papa, passed away about 17 years ago. He taught me many things, and learning to rake hay was definitely one of the most entertaining. Before I left for my workshop today, I raked hay for my husband. Sometimes, I can see his vision of how he wants a field raked because we have done this so many times. But, today he had a different plan as he had to cut around patches in the field because of recent rains. This meant I had to rake differently around those patches.

As I was raking, I began to see something that took my focus off my path. As I began to turn my head to look at the object, my path veered to the left. I refocused and turned down the next row. I began looking away a second time, and took my eyes off my path again . When I refocused, my wheels were in the row beside me. I had messed up the hay in that row when I got off my path.

You see, when we take our eyes off the path, God's plan, we lose focus. The path changes and we are no longer following the course God sets for us. Proverbs 4:26-27, "Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left;  keep your foot from evil." Our paths in life are a lot like my path down the row today. Sometimes it is easy to keep our eyes straight ahead and not move to the right or left. But when temptations come, we often become distracted. When that happens, we find ourselves on the wrong path.

Psalm 25:4-5, "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.". I know when I keep my eyes on Jesus, I am safe, and I am following His path or plan for me. I know when I look away or look to myself, I step out of His will. Things happen that aren't so good for me.

I had to smile to myself as I know exactly what my husband did and said when he saw that row. "What happened here?" I will tell him when I see him, "I took my eyes off my path, but then I quickly stopped and changed drivers."