BILLY HILL Chapter Nineteen

Hold the bridle while I shoe this horse!
courtesy free clip art

 

Billy had enjoyed talking with his mother and now he wanted to visit with his father who was down at the barn.

His dad was repairing the hay loft for soon they would be filling it with loose new cut hay.  His dad had heard Billy drive up in his car but he was too busy to go up to the house.

When Billy came down to the barn where his dad was he told Billy that he needed him to hold the horse's bridle so he could tighten a loose shoe on the horse.  

It would soon fall off if he didn't do it. He had to remove two nails and replace them with new ones which only took him about five minutes to do. He told Billy that horse is the worst one I have ever had about throwing his shoes.

Then they sat down on a bench at the side of the barn and talked about farming and the coming harvest.  Billy mentioned, “It looks like we are going to have a good crop. Now we need to find someone with enough money to buy it.”

His dad said he was having some trouble with his tractor and one of Billy's brothers was coming over to overhaul it for him.

Then he said, “I hear you are going to be married soon.”  Billy said; “yes in about three weeks.” His dad said; “I reckon it is the gal who works in the dry goods store, what is her name?” Billy said; “Linda,” “Oh yes now I remember,” his father replied.  “As near as I can tell they are good folks and the girl will probably make you a fine wife.”

His dad said; “Maybe it isn't my place to say this, but there is something I want you to do and that is to think strongly about her. Especially the things you like about her.

I'm not talking about this love stuff but what she really is. Be honest about it and think about her strengths and her weaknesses, her faults and her perfections; her failings and her successes.

 
Consider the little things that annoy and tickle you.  Get to know her on this basis and then you will know who you are going to marry. If you can accept her as a lifelong mate after examining her this way then you have found someone who you will never be disappointed with.  You will then possess someone who you will always love and will love you in return.”

Billy was surprised at what his father had said to him. He never knew he was able to think in these terms.

Then his father said, “There is another step you need to take. You need to examine your self, to be honest in you evaluation of who you really are. It is so easy to deceive yourself into thinking you are someone other than you really are.

Don't hide anything from yourself; bring everything out in the open so you can see it. Where ever there is falseness deal with it now for if you don't you will struggle with it for the rest of your life and be damaged by it.

Little things can all but destroy a happy marriage and even if you stay together it will not be what a marriage was created to be. Don't go to the altar only being half a man. Now is the time to lay aside all the weights that keep you from being the man God intended you to be.”

With that his dad turned and said, “I have to get back to work. I’m glad you came by to see us.  Come again when you can.”

To be Continued

This story will end soon - - and another one will follow !

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