Self Sufficiency
Sometimes the old stories are the best as they remind us of things we need to know and remember.
You may have heard about the guy who was caught in a horrible flood. The water rose all day and eventually flooded the first floor of his house. He climbed up to the second floor, but the water continued to rise, so eventually he climbed out on the roof of his house and stood there holding onto the chimney. As it appeared that there was no way for him to escape, he prayed for God to save him. Shortly after that, two rescue workers came by in a rubber raft, but he waved them away saying, “God will save me.” A little later, a Coast Guard powerboat came by, but he refused their help repeating, “God will save me.” Finally, as the water rose to the peak of his roof, a helicopter flew over and began to lower a ladder down toward him. He waved them away shouting, “God will save me!”
As you can imagine, the water eventually engulfed his home and swept him away. The story concludes with our hero drowning and approaching Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates of heaven where he asks Saint Peter why his prayers hadn’t been answered. Saint Peter explained, “We heard your prayers and sent a raft, a powerboat, and a helicopter.” The moral of the story left behind for us to apply in our lives, is that we must do all we can do and look for divine inspiration wherever it may come from.
In each of my millions of books that are in print and in every one of these Winners’ Wisdom columns that appear in publications around the world, I provide my contact info. I am constantly amazed at how many people seek my help for answers that are a keystroke away on the computer they are using to contact me. I believe that help is available to all of us both in heaven and here on earth, but we should always do everything in our power before we ask for help. If you will give your best efforts with the knowledge and resources you currently have, you will either solve your problems or find out that help is on the way.
As you go through your day today, do all you can do, then ask for help with what you can’t do.
Today’s the day!