Our Grand Midwest Tour: Prosperity

Driving our rented car from Chicago’s Midway airport where Gene and I were joined by sister Cindy, we watched the scenery around us change from the concrete drab of the city to the waving greens and golds of the farmland. At the first stop in our visit to the homeland of my mother’s mother, we joined up with Christine, a second cousin.

After a sweet get-to-know-you dinner together at Brickstone Brewery in Bourbonnais, we reluctantly left the first of our newly discovered family. Then the three of us traveled on through long stretches of two-lane roads along the late-summer fields in hopes of finding Doug and Pam’s farmhouse in the dark.

Amazingly enough, our phone’s map app showed us exactly where to go! And Doug was right there at the end of the driveway to help direct us in. This was our second indication of the wonderfully warm welcome we received wherever we went in rural Illinois. (Christine had also been standing in front of her house waiting for our arrival.)

From the first, we felt the kinship of long-lost family. Our weekend there was filled with life, love, and learning. The hours were stuffed with Doug’s farming lessons; a ride in a combine; a tour of home and garden accompanied by their faithful dog, Bingo, and sampling of horticulturist Pam’s beautiful and garden-delicious productions; a heritage visit to the small family cemetery where our Mom had recently been laid to rest; meeting Adam at Knapp Funeral Home, who had so kindly and patiently helped us from afar with Mom’s burial arrangements; a glimpse into the past with the help of the family historian—Mom’s cousin Larry, Doug’s dad—which included vintage photos and stories of old; singing beloved hymns at Sunday’s service in the little Methodist church in Donovan; and secretly watching a wedding from the balcony of the beautiful St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Beaverville, also known as the “Cathedral of the Cornfields.” (Next visit, we hope to meet Doug and Pam’s children, Michael and Laura, who now have families of their own.)

And I can hardly begin to share with you about the meals we had together: Pam’s delightful productions with fresh produce from her overflowing garden; homestyle cooking at VIP’s in Watseka; getting together with plenty of family at the Iroquois Café in the city of Iroquois, in Iroquois County, on the Iroquois River; and best of all, partaking of a scrumptious Swedish-style brunch at Larry and Janice’s house (she’s the cook extraordinaire to which her family will attest), and topped off with a lovely cake to celebrate Cindy’s birthday.

We ended each day playing Pitch, a family favorite card game, at the kitchen table into the wee hours of the night. What a wonderful way of life! Slow enough to enjoy the repeating harmonies of God’s creation, the seasons, the sowing to reaping of the crops, the raising of families together, the cultivation of friendships, the love of God shared in a blessed community. This is what I picture when I read of God’s promises to us when we faithfully work heartily for Him.

Colossians 3:23,24:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Ephesians 6:6-8:
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Philippians 4:19:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20,21:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The fruits of our labor are a testimony to the goodness of our heavenly Father, Who richly supplies our every need. God showed us this in a unique way as we were leaving Illinois. Doug and Pam (you will see them both operating the combine at harvest) farm a good bit of acreage that has been in the family for many years. Ownership has been consolidated from many into one, except for my mother’s portion of about 57 acres which she had held onto.

While saying our goodbyes, Doug mentioned that what the crops needed most now was more rain. So, Gene took it to the source of all our blessings and prayed to our Father in heaven for rain. A couple of days later, Doug texted to us that it had been raining aplenty and that Gene could stop praying! He was kind of kidding, but then said he didn’t want to pray to God for his own personal gain.

What a great point! God is not a genie in a bottle who grants you whatever you wish for! No! But as it says in the above scriptures, He does desire to bless us and abundantly supply all our need as we acknowledge HIS sovereignty and glorify HIM for His goodness to us, and don’t try to take the credit for ourselves.

In the end, we all agreed that God has great desire to meet our need when we trust in Him. And above that, He wants to bless us with even more than we need so that we have plenty to give. (And we all know how fun it is to share God’s blessings!)

So, we all accepted God’s gracious gift of a more than usually abundant harvest, and offered many thanks to Him. And we all had a laugh that it was Mom’s field that produced best of all!

This section of II Corinthians nicely sums it up:

II Corinthians 9:6-12 [ESV]:
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

With Christ in each of us, our lives are a glory to God as we trust Him to prosper us and direct our way. May God’s bountiful blessings be yours, too!

NEXT:  Our Grand Midwest Tour: Joy

PREVIOUS:  Our Grand Midwest Tour: Renovation