“Go to the ant, O lazy person. Watch and think about her ways, and be wise. She has no leader, head or ruler, but she gets her food ready in the summer, and gathers her food at the right time.” Proverbs 6:6-8
The sun was blazing down and I was in the garden chopping up an old chest of drawers with a huge axe, no doubt looking like a mad woman. I then spent the next few hours, more sedately, chopping the wood into small sticks. The sticks were piled into a woven wicker basket and placed by the fire. Next door I could hear the old farmer doing the same-chopping up wood for his fire. No one is lighting any fires, as it’s the middle of May; but we are planning and preparing ahead of time.
I am by no means professing to be like the ant. I have spent many hours of my life in idleness or procrastination. I did however, learn a lesson last year when we moved into a new ‘old’ house and entered into winter blissfully unaware of the difficulties that awaited us. Not only did every old window frame let in the freezing cold winter air, but the boiler broke in February during a snow storm and it wasn’t until three weeks later, after sleeping in dressing gowns, piled high with blankets, not enough hot water bottles, huddling around the fire until bedtime; the boiler was fixed and we were able to thaw. I didn’t take my coat off in the house for the entire three weeks and spent every spare moment baking high fat and sugar treats to keep our energy and spirits up. Granted, this was a small trial in the grand scheme of ‘first world’ life, however it was enough to provoke me to careful prudent planning this year.
Prudence is defined as careful, wise discernment; the avoidance of rash behaviour or speech; the good management of talents and resources and the showing of tact and wisdom in relationships with other people. My favourite examples of prudent people in the Bible are both Joseph and Abigail.
Joseph, in the book of Genesis, discerns a multiregional famine on the horizon and goes about averting it by gathered grain, during the prosperous years, in order to have enough for the years of lack. Abigail, on the other hand, shows calm wise behaviour, after her husband wrecklessly insults David and his mighty men, leading them to plan an anniliation of Abigail’s husband and family. Abigail hears of this trouble and goes directly to David and his men; showing them lavish generosity and kindess, winning them over and averting the trouble. Both Jospeh and Abigail show great prudance in their individual sitations.
I may not be able to save a nation from famine at this point, but I am able to prepare and think ahead for my own family…to that cold winter season, which will come again so very soon.
xxxx