My paternal grandparents were farmers in low country South Carolina in the 20s. They grew cotton as their major crop.
While my father enjoyed "working the land" all his life, he had aspirations beyond farming. He wanted to go to college.
It was a big dream in those days, but one his parents hoped would come true. They diligently saved toward that goal.
But in the early 20s, disaster struck. The boll weevil arrived in the Carolinas.
According to the South Carolina Cotton Museum, the boll weevil, cotton's only natural enemy, destroyed 70% of the state's cotton crop in two years. My grandparent's farm was among them.
They had to use all of Daddy's college savings just to survive.
He could have been bitter about the loss of his original dream. Instead he told us of how mercifully God had provided for them.
While others were completely ruined financially, they had the "college savings" to fall back on. And they shared with others.
My father was later able to go to business school and learn bookkeeping. He "kept books" for people as a second job to being a mailman for years. He did this, in part, to give my brother and me the opportunity to go to college.
But he made it very clear it was an opportunity, not a mandate. He was thankful for the training he received. If we had chosen a path other than college, he would have supported it.
Both my brother and I had the joy of graduating from college with our parents in attendance. We all thanked God together.
Both of my parents lived a life of gratitude, trusting God to make His Plan clear. They knew from experience, God's Plans are always best!
A man's heart plans his way, But The Lorddirects his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!"
Jeremiah 29:11
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