Gravel Road, Paved Road

My husband and I live in the city.  It's not a huge city and it's close to the country but it is still "in town."  We have a small garden spot about 12 miles from our house because our lot is too small to have a garden on it.  In order to get to the garden, we travel on paved roads and gravel roads.

Several days ago as we were happily traveling along, the gravel road shook us.  Now, our little Ford Escape has been a tremendous blessing and we appreciate the job that it does for us.  As we traveled down the gravel road, our Escape groaned and worked and squeaked and rattled and labored.  The noise filled our ears like the roar of much rushing water.  We gritted our teeth and finally reached our destination.

We quickly checked the squash plants for bugs.  Ugh.  We harvested a few tomatoes.  We observed the jalapeno peppers developing.  We lamented the lack of blooms on our okra.  We were surprised by the sunflower that had blossomed.  We dusted the corn in an effort to cut down on worms and fertilized everything for the first time this season.  We labored.  No, it was not intensive labor but we worked.  Then, it was time to head back home.

We gritted our teeth as the Escape groaned, worked, squeaked, rattled and labored back down the gravel road.  Again, the noise filled our ears nearly drowning out everything else.  Then one final section of rough gravel and we were on the pavement.  And the silence was deafening.  No more groaning, no more squeaking, no more rattle, there was just the quiet hum of the tires.

As we traveled I reflected on it all.  When our lives are on a gravel, bumpy, washed-out path, do we squeak and rattle and groan to God?  Then, when our lives are on the smooth path, are we silent?  Sadly, I could only answer the questions with, "Yes."  When trials and tests come our way, we spend many hours in prayer telling God what we want and asking Him to fix everything.  But when things are going the way we want, we don't take the time to talk with Him at all.

(Father God, please forgive me when I forget that you are the provider of the smooth path.  Help me to remember you in the good times and to thank you for them during them.  In the name of Jesus, I pray.  Amen.)