Only God Knows

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” – Matthew 13:31-32

George stoked the old wood stove in the kitchen. The house needed to be warm when the baby came. He’d sent the eldest son to the neighboring farm to get Belle. He knew he couldn’t deliver this child alone.

Elizabeth cringed with pain. Tears flooded. “This baby is too early, it’ll never survive. Plus the snow is knee deep. It’s too cold for it to live.” she gritted her teeth as another contraction rushed through her body.

“We’ll manage. And God’s will shall be done.” replied George.

Belle pushed open the front door and headed straight for Elizabeth. “How far are we, honey?”

“Far enough to know this baby is coming.”

A few hours later, Elizabeth gave birth to child so small that it fit in the palm of her hand. Belle wrapped the tiny infant tight and placed him in a small wooden box, then placed the box on the door of the stove. “We can only keep him warm and try to feed him a few drops of milk at a time. It will be a miracle if he lives.”

Years later, Daniel sat telling the story of the baby who fit in a shoebox and how it should have died. “Tiny as he was, the good Lord had a plan. That baby survived the odds and grew into a strong, healthy man.”

“Who was that Grandpa,” asked the child listening to the story.

“That baby was me. I should have died. But God had a plan for me. He took the tiniest, most frail baby and grew him into a strong man. Never under estimate God’s plan.”

Believe it or not, though the characters are fictional the underlying basis of this story is true. That baby grew into a fine and talented man – tall and handsome. Never the less, the words are true, “never under estimate God’s plan for us.” Infants defy all odds in neo-natal units daily. Babies that should have died by human standards, survive. Why? Man certainly has developed mind boggling techniques to help sustain life, but the fact remains, the soul of the child still lies in the hands of the Father.

Only God can take the tiniest seed and turn it into a plant large enough that the birds perch in it. Only God, can take an infant who fits in the palm of your hand and grows it into an individual to be used as part of His plan. Only God – only the Father, can take a seemingly hopeless situation and change it.

There is a plan for each one of us. Some may only survive moments, but the life changing events around their entry to this world are part of a plan, while others win against all odds. Their purpose has not yet been unveiled.

The mighty power of God knows no boundaries and we do not know the part we play in His plan until He reveals it to us at the appropriate time. For each of us, there is a time, a season, and a reason. We are all part of a master plan.

Blessed Father, we praise You for the plans You have set into motion. May we patiently wait to know our part of the plan.