Near noon, Tommy came walking out to the far end of the garden, where Harry and his father were nearly finished preparing the ground for a new planting.

"I'm hungry," said Tommy. "When is lunch?"

"Oh, how unfortunate," said Harry's father. "We each prepared a sack lunch early this morning for our noon meal. Since you chose to sleep in and have not prepared a lunch, nor have you helped with the work, we have no lunch for you."

The shock in Tommy's expression turned from astonishment to rage when he realized that Harry's father was serious. "I hate you! I never should have come here!" yelled Tommy, and ran toward a nearby tree.

Harry couldn't believe what just happened. He had never seen his father not share. Not even if it meant going without himself. "Dad?!" was all Harry could say before running over to where Tommy was trying not to cry. "Here, you can have mine."

Tommy's curled lip and tightened fist quickly relaxed as he reached for the offered lunch. "Thanks."

"That's okay," added Harry, "I ate a big breakfast and I'm not that hungry."

Harry's father soon joined them under the tree's shade and sat down on the cool green grass.

"I'd like to tell you a story" he said.

"Tommy" said Harry's father, "on a farm we must be like the ant. You won't be asked to do more than you are able to do - nor less. Where you come from, everything is done for you. Here, we must work." He then gave his sack lunch to Harry and returned to the garden.

Harry began to see what his father was trying to do. "I'll help you, Tommy," said Harry. "We can work together. Let's start right after we finish our sandwiches."

Tommy watched as Harry easily turned the dark soil with his shovel. But when he tried to do the same, his shovel barely broke the surface. After three or four more tries, the shovel finally sank deep enough to turn over half a shovel-full.

Tommy continued working like this for a short time when suddenly he said, "Ouch."

"What's wrong?" With a quick look, it was easy for Harry to see the blisters forming on Tommy's hands. "You need some gloves and a hat." Harry showed him how to tighten the gloves and adjust his broad-rimmed hat. "You can do it. These gloves will help."

That evening, Tommy was very quiet during dinner. He seemed to chew his corn-on-the-cob slowly and take a drink of cold milk after each bite.

After the evening dishes were washed and put away they gathered in the living room for their evening reading of a scripture and family prayer. Following the evening hymn, it was no surprise to Harry that Tommy was sound asleep before he could finish writing in his journal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Devotional

[  ]     Journal - Write in your Journal

[  ]     Scripture - Matthew 4:1-4

[  ]     Hymn - Lead, Kindly Light

LDS Hymn # 97

[  ]     Prayer - To Heavenly Father

                       Harry's Prayer