From our youngest years we as human beings are prone to ask why. There is no sin in asking, but when we insist on knowing why before following a path laid out by those with whom we should have trust, we become faithless creatures, unworthy of answers best received and most understood by measured experiences that bring wisdom.

When I was a boy, growing up in the middle of a twenty acre almond orchard on a small family farm, my brothers, sisters and I had a lot of chores. We did not have lawns to mow like some of our friends who lived in town, but we had a lot of work to do, and I did not always understand the purpose of everything that we did. My father was not the type who would explain the purpose of every assignment he gave. He was an engineer and had his own work to get done, so he could not always take the time to explain a complete process to us. If he did, I don’t know if we would have listened or understood anyway. Dad just gave out the assignments and we, often reluctantly, just carried out the tasks.

Some of our work was seasonal, and some of it had to happen every day.

The not so daily work included building a chicken coop, turkey pen, hog pens, a greenhouse, drilling holes for corner posts and driving stakes for fencing. In actuality we dug the foundation for and built in large part our own house, even to the installation of roofing. Every year we dug the plot for our large family garden, prepped the soil and planted the seeds. In the winter we pruned the orchard, applied crop protection materials and disked the soil in the spring. In the late summer we drug large canvas tarps from tree to tree, knocking all the almonds off the trees with large mallets, and shoveled the almonds into bins when the tarps were full.

On a more daily basis, everything needed nourishment and upkeep. We needed to feed the chickens, the turkeys, the ducks, the goats, the pigs, the cattle. The cow needed to be milked, and new calves needed bottle feeding. Everything needed water, including the plants and trees, and those watering systems needed to be maintained, along with all the fences and buildings. Even our very long gravel driveway needed regular maintenance so as not to form potholes and damage our vehicles. Weeding was a constant necessity. Whenever you put water on some thing that needs water, unwanted weeds come with it, and seem to thrive more than what you are intending to water.

I am telling you, Malcolm kids were taught to work, and we worked hard, whether we liked it all the time or not. I do not think working hard bothered me so much, as not always understanding the why we were working when many of our friends experienced more leisure time.

“…when I grew up knowing how to work hard, being strong and healthy and able to support and lead my own family, I could really see why my father so lovingly provided me with much to do, with much purpose and with the blessing of understanding through experience.”

Occasionally answers would come to me, where I could see the bigger picture and have a greater understanding for what my father was asking us to do. When we would deliver stacks of bins filled with almonds to the blue diamond receiving station, and see the harvest bringing needed income for our family, I could see the why. When we were eating eggs, fresh vegetables, rhubarb on our waffles, chicken, turkey, steak or bacon, and drinking sweet jersey milk, or even goat milk, I could see that bigger picture. And when I grew up knowing how to work hard, being strong and healthy and able to support and lead my own family, I could really see why my father so lovingly provided me with much to do, with much purpose and with the blessing of understanding through experience. It was not always important to tell me why something needed to be done, but more important for me to learn to have faith in my father that he would direct me in the things that I should do for positive outcomes.

When I was little I always heard stories of a God on a giant throne surrounded by gold and precious things, seeking the accolades and service of all. That never seemed quite fitting of the image that I have of Heavenly Father. The god I heard others describe always sounded self-centered and without the love and compassion that I felt in my heart God to be. It just seemed peculiar to me that if He is a loving Father looking for the best interests of His children, why would He be so concerned with seeking personal glory?

With all due respect, my dad was not perfect by any measure, but I learned from him that he loved me and wanted for me to have everything that was his and more. All that work that we did growing up was not for his benefit, but for the benefit of us all. This is how I pictured Heavenly Father, only perfect, having perfect love and perfect desire for what was best for me and my brothers and sisters.

One of my favorite childhood songs is titled “I Am a Child of God.” It was written by Naomi Ward Randall (1908–2001). It helped me to gain an understanding of the true relationship of father to child that we share with our Heavenly Father.

I am a child of God,
And He has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand His words
Before it grows too late.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do His will,
I’ll live with Him once more.

I am a child of God.
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine
If I can but endure.

“I have not, and still do not, understand fully every assignment given, every law decreed, but I have grown sufficiently, and in large part because of the teaching of my dad, to have faith in God’s wisdom for me, and all things will be answered.”

Heavenly Father, like my earthly father in childhood, has given me assignments, guidance, rules and commandments to live by throughout my sojourn here on earth. I have not, and still do not, understand fully every assignment given, every law decreed, but I have grown sufficiently, and in large part because of the teaching of my dad, to have faith in God’s wisdom for me, and all things will be answered.

One answer came when in my youth I joyfully encountered this scripture, the word of the Lord to my inquiring heart, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). We, His children, are His glory. When we follow in His path, His work is accomplished, we return to his presence and enjoy immortality and eternal life with Him. This is glory. There is no selfishness nor self-centeredness in our Heavenly Father, only a righteous desire to see His children receive all the blessings of His kingdom with Him. This is His work, and should be the work of us all, bringing glory to His name.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.

When I as a 10-year-old child, during the hot summer, shovel in hand, with Dad and my siblings, digging the large foundation where concrete would be poured and our home would be built, I had no real concept of how it would all turn out. But when I was on the second story roof, nailing shingles, looking out over the orchard we had harvested below, I could see answers to my questions. My answers came forged in faithful following, and the wisdom and knowledge that come with doing.

Much will not be fully understood until we are seated with Him, looking upon His kingdom, which in His work He has lovingly prepared to share with us as children of God. Nevertheless we will then know, our faith rewarded with wisdom, and life eternal. May we here resolve in this new year to act in humility, seeking for understanding, but following in faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.