The Empty Bag…

The Empty Bag…6-8-25

My husband and I met a young man yesterday. He is almost 30, but to us that is young. His story is one we told to family members different times as we each came in from our various trips. We are on a getaway with my husband’s uncle and his family. The young man was our fishing guide. He was quiet, very respectful, and great with our grandson. I twisted my lines once and said “I’m sorry.” He quickly told me that in his boat we never have to apologize. This is his job, something he loves, and he wants the main priority to be that we all have fun.

His mother and father were addicted to drugs. He was raised in Mississippi by his grandmother and grandfather. When his mother was trying to get clean, they all came to Arkansas. But they still weren’t parents. He met a young lady when he was 18 and she was 16. They have been together for 10 years. Her mother died after she was born and she never knew her. Her father was not in the picture much. It was an abusive home and she was known to the courts. He wanted to give her a safe place with he and his grandmother. The court said she was too young and sent her to a step-father. He didn’t want her, but wanted the money. After a short time, the young man took a carton of cigarettes and sat down with the step-dad “man to man”. He offered the cigarettes and the check each month from the state if the girl could come marry him.

They have one girl, seven, Alice. They had a little boy last year who was born with Down’s. He is almost a year now. He spent three months in the hospital after birth. He has been in and out since then. Three weeks ago, ACH tried to stretch his esophagus. The esophagus tore, and he has been in the hospital since. Finally, the esophagus has healed and he will have to learn to eat again. His wife is unable to work now because of having to be a constant caregiver. He couldn’t work the previous job because of needing to be gone intermittently to the hospital with their son. He spent a lot of time after they moved to Arkansas on this river. He had guided on the side and decided to go full-time so he could be with his son and be caregiver to their daughter while she is at the hospital. The Lord had provided.

During our conversations, I prayed about how to introduce the Lord into our conversation. When he told us about the guide service allowing him to be able to be gone, that was the opening. I introduced God knowing what we needed and he was off to the races. He shared about how he was a believer. How God had worked in his life recently and how he was trying to read his Bible more. He said a month ago was his daughter’s birthday. Bills are tight and he didn’t have money left for a present. He can’t go to Little Rock much because of money and can’t stay with them this time. God provided money for additional bills and a little extra for a present. He gave God the glory for providing this.

His grandfather passed away and he asked his wife if the grandmother could live with them. Of course, not a question. She helps with their daughter because his mother is too busy with her life, and doesn’t want to “raise his daughter” while he works and his wife is with their son in ACH.

But this man calls to God. He is reaching out. He says that he is a positive man and will call God to take away Satan from trying to get into his family and life through these difficult times. What a testimony. What a life that can only proclaim of His glory.

You see, some lives are like the bag above, empty. As difficulties come, we become used and the sand spills out. Some people call on God for the sand needed to refill their bag. Some people complain, look to others to fill their bag, but are never satisfied. They don’t understand and appreciate what God provides in every form.

This man has next to nothing, but everything all at once. A hard life, a hard story, but works and pays his bills. He refuses to be negative. He knows what God has provided. I asked him how their daughter was doing with the separation and brother in the hospital. He told me she broke down the day before and cried. He told us he was beat as a child for crying. His dad said “men don’t cry.” He told her that he had cried too, and that it was okay to get it out.

I will pray God provides for him. I will pray God holds him close. I will pray for his little boy’s strength, his wife, daughter, and him. I thank God for his grandmother. God placed her there to be a source of strength and help. I thank God that He placed this man in our paths. I thank God that He fills my empty bag.

Philippians 4:13. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”