I was always after my dad to take me with him into the woods where four-foot pulp was being harvested for the paper industry. As foreman, he would travel from crew to crew inspecting their work and making arrangements for their next move. A crew would be composed of two men and a horse. One man would cut the trees; the horse would haul the delimbed tree and a man in the yard would buck it up and pile it. These men were mostly French-Canadians who could not converse in English.

Dad stopped to talk to a man and I, of course, couldn’t understand the language. This cutter took out a pack of cigarettes and offered my dad one, which he accepted. Then surprisingly he made the same offer to me, a nine-year-old who was standing there. I sheepishly refused the offer, probably because Dad was there.

As we left this scene and were out of earshot, I asked Dad, “Why did that man offer me a cigarette?” Dad said it was because he was a Canadian and in that country they got married at my age. I was reflecting on that and said to myself, I’m thankful I’m an American because I’m not ready for marriage.

Sometimes accurate information can be lacking even from those you trust. This is the reason God has given us His word about the past, present and future.

Psalm 19:7-9

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
 

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.

 The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

No, there wasn’t a Santa Claus either.

Give it some thought.

Gary