A Boy A Pig & A Prayer
By A Guest Contributor
A boy, 11 years old.
A pig raised from 25 lbs. to almost 250 lbs.
And a prayer.
The year was 1986. The boy, raised in church, knew God and knew how to pray just as Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 18:1 – praying always and not giving up.
The boy, enjoying the outdoors, found the smell of livestock, even pigs, was a perfume that swept away the cares of life. Not that an 11-year-old boy had many cares, but the stress of having to read a book for English class, practice math problems, or learn proper grammar would become a distant memory during daily chores. It was not exactly an escape from reality but an escape from things that he’d considered mattered less. However, this boy learned a lesson while working in the livestock pens, one that would stick with him for the rest of his life.
The boy, Justin, was in 4H and desired to raise an animal for the Houston Livestock show. He had cousins and an older brother who had shown animals over the years. At the age of 11, the time had finally come, Justin’s parents were going to allow him to show a pig at the show.
The Purchase
Justin had prepared for this day long and hard. He hated to read but he spent time reading about what to look for in a show pig. He learned about the importance of body conformation, how the pig was supposed to walk, and he also learned about the different breeds of show pigs. He wanted a Chester White pig - liking the big floppy ears. Even as a boy - he admitted they were kind of cute.
Justin’s dad took him to an auction for show piglets. The drive to the auction was almost two hours and the boy, sitting in the jump seat of an old pickup truck, prayed silently that God would help him to pick out a piglet for the show. Sometimes we think that our desires are too inconsequential for God to care about but Philippians 4:6 tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”
Justin understood there was not a big budget for the purchase, and he would likely not get the pig he wanted. Upon arriving early to the auction barn, Justin walked the pens with his dad, where each pig had a number painted on its back. He studied the pigs carefully, observing how they walked, and looked at the length of each pig with a careful focus on the hams. He had two piglets picked out.
As the pig walked into the auction ring the auctioneer began, his dad was the first to bid, then again, and again but quickly the price exceeded the budget. A few minutes later the next piglet Justin picked out walked into the auction ring. This time another bidder hollered out a bid well above the starting point and above their budget. Disappointed, they got up and walked back to the pens again. There Justin saw a smaller pig, almost a runt, that he had noticed before and passed up. His eye brought him back to this little piglet.
He immediately said, “Dad! I want that one!” confident as ever and hoping they would not be out bid again as they went back to the auction ring. Waiting patiently for other pigs to be auctioned off, finally his desired piglet entered the auction ring. His dad bid, but the auctioneer kept calling for another bid. The auctioneer kept saying “this is a good little pig, so he needs another bidder.” Again, the auctioneer kept calling for another bidder. Going once. Going twice. Sold! Nobody even bid against them. Why? Perhaps this pig looked more like a runt than a show pig. Justin did not care. He was happy. Actually, more than happy, as words could not adequately describe the feeling. This was a big moment in his young life.
The pig was loaded in a small pen in the back of the pickup and was carried to the livestock pens where Justin would raise him. Justin had prepared the feed, shavings, and had tools ready to clean the pen daily, walk the piglet, and regularly bathe it. The setup was complete, and Justin was ready to work.
Justin prayed daily - a simple prayer, “God, please help me to raise this pig to the best of my ability and if it be your will, I’d like to win first place.”
Justin had set a goal to win first place. He did not share this with many, but it was his personal goal, and he recognized it was a lofty goal. You see, the show would have thousands of pigs. There would be kids from around the state of Texas who grew up on farms or ranches, had shown animals many times prior, and would have much more experience. Justin was, for the most part, a city boy and comparatively had spent minimal amounts of time on the farms of relatives growing up.
A Day’s Work.
Every day after school, no matter how cold or hot, and sometimes after dark Justin would tend to his pig. Before starting chores each day, Justin prayed this simple prayer, “God please help me to raise this pig to the best of my ability and if it be your will, I’d like to win first place.”
Each day he would clean the pen. Justin took pride in making sure the pen was clean and never allowed it to get too smelly. He would carry 50 lb. feed sacks to make sure the feeder was always full and test the automatic waterer to ensure it was working as it should. After cleaning the pen, Justin would walk his pig around the barn time and time again. It became such a routine that the pig learned Justin’s walking pace and they’d walk side by side, just as they would when show time arrived.
Show Time
After months of hard work, it was finally - Show Time! Thousands of pigs from across the state arrived for the show. Pigs were bathed, brushed, and prepped to look their best. Contestants wore their nicest blue jeans, shirts tucked in, and hair combed just right. It was showtime and cry time.
You see, when kids spend hours a day with their animal and it does not place - there are literal tears, hearts broken and hard life lessons are learned.
The Show Ring
Justin and his pig entered the show ring. The judge took a hard look and Justin kept walking his pig. The judge would dismiss other pigs from the show ring that did not place. The judge came around and took another look as Justin walked his pig. The judge placing pigs would assign them in various pens. He took another look. Justin kept walking his pig, but if he was honest, nerves were getting the best of him. It was February in Houston, and although there was a chill in the air, Justin was wearing a red sweater, sweating profusely and his freckled cheeks were rosy red. The judge put more pigs in the pens. Those were the ones who would get ribbons. He came around another time, but this time was different. The judge studied his pig. He then turned and looked at another pig and studied it.
Justin recognized the person showing the other pig. That was the pig he wanted but could not afford. The judge then looked at Justin’s pig again, took a big step, slapped his pig on the back, and hollered out FIRST PLACE! Justin immediately heard his family burst into cheers from the stands nearby.
Did the hand of God move? The odds of winning first place being a first-time exhibitor with a pig nobody else wanted were certainly not in Justin’s favor. Justin undoubtedly recognized the hand of God in this instance and thanked Him. It was a miracle.
WHY?
Why did God bless Justin? Why did he answer his prayers? Why has God not answered other prayers Justin has prayed and thought to be much more consequential?
The prayer to heal his childhood friend who died from an aneurysm. The prayer for the healing of a friend’s child who later died didn’t seem to be answered. Why did God not answer these prayers? He did, but the answer just didn’t seem to be aligned with Justin’s desires. While on earth, it is likely we will never fully understand why or how God’s hand weaves within the fabric of our lives. As Christians, we can take comfort in Psalm 34:15, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.”
A Life Lesson
Justin prayed faithfully. He had a childlike faith and prayed a childlike prayer. His testimony was building. Justin would go on to share this story - time and time again as he grew up.
God wants us to pray to Him and he hears our prayers. 1 John 5:14 states “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Justin will never know why his life lesson was so different from many of the others on that day, but to this day he remains thankful. He knows still that we do not need to offer up a lengthy sophisticated prayer, only one that is genuine and faithful. Justin has a saying - you may not be smarter than a 5th grader, but you can pray like one and God will hear you! God wants us to have a childlike faith as he tells us in Mark 10:15 – “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
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