The Stump Lot

There was an old farmer who worked hard and saved so that he could purchase a piece of land that was adjacent to the small homestead that they owned. He had two sons that he taught how to do all that he knew. He told them how their riches were hidden in the land that the family had. Over the years he worked on it gradually harvesting the trees so that all that was left was the stumps.

Unfortunately, he became ill and became bedridden. His boys just knew that their daddy had hidden the family’s gold somewhere on the property. They were concerned that the sickness would take him before too long, so they pressed him to reveal where the gold was hidden. In a weak voice he said, "the stump lot, the stump lot."

They went out and stood surveying the stump lot. It was a huge piece of property nestled in a valley with a quiet creek winding through the middle. Across that valley were literally hundreds of stumps that were everywhere. There was no visible sign as to where this gold might be hidden so the boys went to work digging out the stumps trying to find out which one the gold was hidden under.

This process went on for many months. They asked their father again where the gold was and he assured them that it was in the stump lot. Winter was approaching and they had just about removed every stump on the property, but still no gold. When spring arrived, they had completed the task of removing every single stump from the original forest of trees that had existed on this property.

The old farmer died just before they finished clearing the land. They were so disappointed that they had not found the gold and their only source of knowledge of where the gold could be was gone. The sons were out looking over the property discussing what the next steps would be when their mama suggested that they plant the field that they had worked so hard to clear. They agreed to plant the field in corn.

Later that summer, the harvest of corn was incredible. The land was so fertile that the seed produced far above what other farmers realized on their properties. It was then that the boys found the old farmer's gold. It truly was in the stump lot.

Wealth isn't worth having if it is just turned over to you. But if you diligently work at it every day, you will prosper far above what you could have imagined.

Your heavenly Father has placed before you a stump lot called life. Your task is to dig out all the old rotten stumps that stand in your way. If you do this and prepare the soil of your heart, you will find that it is fertile and full of life. As you plant love in that soil, it will return to you a tremendous harvest of family and friendships that will truly make you richer than any bag of money.

Rejoice, for you are greatly loved!