I think we all have a desire to possess things. In some cases it may be a jet plane or a mansion, but on the other end of the spectrum, possessions may be much smaller in nature. Our favorite pruning shears, pocket knife, nail file and the list goes on and on, but no matter how insignificant they may seem, they hold great value to those who need and use them.
Craftsmen with the tools of their trade value the little things that make the job easier. Assembly line workers that repeat their task hundreds of times a day have their favorite tools. If you want to know how to assemble something, go ask the person who does it all day long. They will show you ways to do it that you could never imagine. Don’t mess with anyone’s favorite tools. When I worked in the lawn and garden industry the tool boxes in the shop were the prize possession of the mechanics. You would never think of touching anyone’s tool box for any reason without their permission.
The pride we have in completing our daily task and the respect we have for the tools that allow us to do it is what makes us special. No matter what role we play, while we are here on this planet, we do it willingly and thank the Lord for the opportunity to care for our most valued possession -our family. In the work that I currently do, helping gardeners be successful, the subject of weeds always comes up. As we discuss chemicals, weed barriers, hand pulling and flamethrowers, I always tell them to not overlook their most valuable tool – the hoe.
On a trip to north Georgia my wife and I stopped at an antique store. As we walked up I spotted an old hoe sitting in the shadows of other items on the front porch. I dug it out and inspected the well-worn artifact. The handle was worn down to half its original size in the area where calloused hands once held it. The blade while rusty was very sharp and the metal worn thin from use. I bought it, mainly to use as a prop in my gardening classes, to show participants what their hoe at home should look like if they were using it.
When I got home and inspected it more thoroughly I noticed the initials “E.H.” carved in the lower handle. This was not only a well-worn hoe; it was someone’s favorite tool. I don’t know who “E.H.” was, but this hoe tells the story of a hard working person. A person who took pride in what they did. It tells of a person who accepted their role in life and made the best of it. I think we can all learn from the story this hoe tells. I wish we could have known “EH.” I am sure we would have liked and respected him/her.
