Years ago, a farmer needed help, so he advertised to hire a farm-hand.

The farmer received many applications, and he interviewed almost all. One question he always asked was "Why should I hire you?" The response was usually some form of bragging about how strong the worker was, or how smart, or how hard he worked but none of the men seemed just right.

Finally, one man's response to "the question" was "I can sleep on windy nights."

This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him.

The new hand worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work.

Some time later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep on windy nights.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot but instead, he and his wife worriedly began to check everything. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The farm implements had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn had been properly locked. The haystacks were covered, the cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away.

All was well. Even the animals were calm.

It was then that the farmer grasped the meaning of the young man’s words, "I can sleep on a windy night."

Because the farm hand had performed his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. Consequently, when the wind blew, he had no fear. He was able to sleep in peace.