Two years had now passed since the man met a beautiful woman in a distant marketplace. It had been love from the beginning and they were soon joined together. They had achieved much in that time; creating a lasting relationship, building a home, and filling it with their first little girl.
About a month before their second anniversary, the man sat on the green grassy bank at the edge of the river and looked upon his house with pride. His heart swells with joy and gratitude as he beholds the life he and his wife had painstakingly built together.
The cottage is small with a thatched roof, a few windows, and just two bedrooms so far. There are areas marked out on the grass where they plan to add more bedrooms as they get the children to fill them. It is a cozy home, always filled with warmth and laughter. The cottage is also built on a firm foundation that has given them a strong base on which to start a wonderful marriage.
A flash of light draws the man’s attention to the cottage’s best feature, in his opinion; a small glass tower on the peak. The lighthouse was his wife’s early addition to their new home. She had built it long ago with the help of her parents and now she maintains it as a guide for him and their children. The beacon in the lighthouse can be seen from far away, always there day and night to lead and inspire him to greater heights. Tears fill his eyes as he considered the power of that beacon, and how much it has helped him through the years.
Watching his wife dutifully keep the beacon lit and the lighthouse in good repair had inspired the man to build his own addition to the cottage. Although it took a very long time, nearly the full two years, he has finally achieved his goal: a tall waterwheel had been added to the side of the cottage. Currently the wheel was poised over the river, waiting to be lowered into place.
The waterwheel is the man’s greatest triumph in life to this moment, because it was only accomplished after much struggling and many trials. Construction had been a slow process, oft interrupted. Although he had tried hard to be diligent, the cares of the world caused him to be distracted and stumble far too many times. Each time he was knocked low, discouraged and crestfallen, the lighthouse was there to warm and inspire him and his wife was always by his side to help him up, dust him off, and encourage him to keep working. He had developed a deep, abiding appreciation for that astounding woman that amazingly continued to increase month after month.
The man sees a group of men approaching and stands. He walks along the bank to the cottage where he meets the group; they are servants of the Lord of the land, sent to help him get the waterwheel into the river, where it can begin benefiting his home.
The man leads his wife and baby out of the cottage and to the bank of the river where the servants wait. Nervous and excited energy fills the man as he realizes how close he truly is to finishing the waterwheel. His wife places her hand in his and gives him a warm, encouraging smile. With help from the Lord’s servants, and working under the bright light of the woman’s lighthouse, the man sets the waterwheel in place, lowering the paddles into the river. Immediately, the strength of the flowing water causes it to turn and the power of the river pours into the cottage.
The man’s heart is filled with thankfulness and elation at the sight of his duty finally being fulfilled. The woman throws her arms around him and together they celebrate.
The other men depart, leaving the man and his wife to contemplate their changed home. Taking his wife’s hand, the man guides her down to the grass so that they are both on their knees. Together they say a prayer to the Lord of the land, thanking him for the power of the river and the ability and knowledge to have that power in their home. Following the prayer, the family heads back into their cottage. Their home is the same as it has been for many months, and yet, they can both sense and feel a difference. With the waterwheel in place, their cottage seems far warmer and brighter. It is much more of a home now than it has ever been.
A month passes and the man devotedly tends to his waterwheel while the woman continues to maintain her lighthouse. They work side by side to accomplish their individual duties and keep the blessings of both the lighthouse and the waterwheel in their home. Together, they also look after their little lamb and prepare the cottage to receive more children in the future. They also look forward to a journey to gather the materials to improve the cottage’s foundation, to create a home that will stand through the ages.
As he goes from day to day, the man learns much about the work and effort required to keep the waterwheel going. Thankfully he had a good father that had taught him well. The man spends a good deal of time every day ensuring that the waterwheel is in good, working order. Although he knows much, he continues to learn valuable lessons every day about the waterwheel and using the power of the river.
With the strength of the river behind him, the man learns that he can do much to bless his family and neighbors. He learns that the power is there to help and support others and that through its use, much good can be done. He revels in the newfound strength and strives to honor the Master and Lord of the land as he uses that power for its intended purposes:
It is the force by which canyons are carved and mountains are moved. Life is created and sustained by the river, and through its might the Master’s work is accomplished.
And now, that power is present in this home, available to help any who need it.
About a month before their second anniversary, the man sat on the green grassy bank at the edge of the river and looked upon his house with pride. His heart swells with joy and gratitude as he beholds the life he and his wife had painstakingly built together.
The cottage is small with a thatched roof, a few windows, and just two bedrooms so far. There are areas marked out on the grass where they plan to add more bedrooms as they get the children to fill them. It is a cozy home, always filled with warmth and laughter. The cottage is also built on a firm foundation that has given them a strong base on which to start a wonderful marriage.
A flash of light draws the man’s attention to the cottage’s best feature, in his opinion; a small glass tower on the peak. The lighthouse was his wife’s early addition to their new home. She had built it long ago with the help of her parents and now she maintains it as a guide for him and their children. The beacon in the lighthouse can be seen from far away, always there day and night to lead and inspire him to greater heights. Tears fill his eyes as he considered the power of that beacon, and how much it has helped him through the years.
Watching his wife dutifully keep the beacon lit and the lighthouse in good repair had inspired the man to build his own addition to the cottage. Although it took a very long time, nearly the full two years, he has finally achieved his goal: a tall waterwheel had been added to the side of the cottage. Currently the wheel was poised over the river, waiting to be lowered into place.
The waterwheel is the man’s greatest triumph in life to this moment, because it was only accomplished after much struggling and many trials. Construction had been a slow process, oft interrupted. Although he had tried hard to be diligent, the cares of the world caused him to be distracted and stumble far too many times. Each time he was knocked low, discouraged and crestfallen, the lighthouse was there to warm and inspire him and his wife was always by his side to help him up, dust him off, and encourage him to keep working. He had developed a deep, abiding appreciation for that astounding woman that amazingly continued to increase month after month.
The man sees a group of men approaching and stands. He walks along the bank to the cottage where he meets the group; they are servants of the Lord of the land, sent to help him get the waterwheel into the river, where it can begin benefiting his home.
The man leads his wife and baby out of the cottage and to the bank of the river where the servants wait. Nervous and excited energy fills the man as he realizes how close he truly is to finishing the waterwheel. His wife places her hand in his and gives him a warm, encouraging smile. With help from the Lord’s servants, and working under the bright light of the woman’s lighthouse, the man sets the waterwheel in place, lowering the paddles into the river. Immediately, the strength of the flowing water causes it to turn and the power of the river pours into the cottage.
The man’s heart is filled with thankfulness and elation at the sight of his duty finally being fulfilled. The woman throws her arms around him and together they celebrate.
The other men depart, leaving the man and his wife to contemplate their changed home. Taking his wife’s hand, the man guides her down to the grass so that they are both on their knees. Together they say a prayer to the Lord of the land, thanking him for the power of the river and the ability and knowledge to have that power in their home. Following the prayer, the family heads back into their cottage. Their home is the same as it has been for many months, and yet, they can both sense and feel a difference. With the waterwheel in place, their cottage seems far warmer and brighter. It is much more of a home now than it has ever been.
A month passes and the man devotedly tends to his waterwheel while the woman continues to maintain her lighthouse. They work side by side to accomplish their individual duties and keep the blessings of both the lighthouse and the waterwheel in their home. Together, they also look after their little lamb and prepare the cottage to receive more children in the future. They also look forward to a journey to gather the materials to improve the cottage’s foundation, to create a home that will stand through the ages.
As he goes from day to day, the man learns much about the work and effort required to keep the waterwheel going. Thankfully he had a good father that had taught him well. The man spends a good deal of time every day ensuring that the waterwheel is in good, working order. Although he knows much, he continues to learn valuable lessons every day about the waterwheel and using the power of the river.
With the strength of the river behind him, the man learns that he can do much to bless his family and neighbors. He learns that the power is there to help and support others and that through its use, much good can be done. He revels in the newfound strength and strives to honor the Master and Lord of the land as he uses that power for its intended purposes:
It is the force by which canyons are carved and mountains are moved. Life is created and sustained by the river, and through its might the Master’s work is accomplished.
And now, that power is present in this home, available to help any who need it.