The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close
friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of
looking at every situation that ever occurred in his
life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting
expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns
for the king. The friend had apparently done something
wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the
gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was
blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked
as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied,
"No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend
to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that
he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured
him and took them to their village. They tied his hands,
stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the
stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they
noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being
superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than
whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that
had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of
his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with
his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that
my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the
friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very
sorry for sending you to jail for so long.

It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied,
"This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good
that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in
them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and
live our lives according to His precepts, even that which
seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for
His glory and our benefit. Hold on, God is faithful! May
God bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.
~~ Author Unknown

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to
accomplish what is now being done ..." Genesis 50:20 NIV