A Week on the Farm

So you live on a farm and the main animal caretaker takes a week-long break.  What happens?  I'm beginning to find out.  (and yes, I'm expecting a very exciting week coming up)

I typically post here about my walk with Christ and the different lessons He teaches along the way.  But while that happens, I also live life.  Sometimes that includes several hours of school mixed in with normal chores and hobbies, but this week is different.  And I'm a firm believer that the mundane (or crazy) events in life can draw us closer to Jesus.

That's what this post is about.  Here's a glimpse into what life is like on the farm.

Spring is a beautiful time in the country.  Already, I've discovered a dozen varieties of flowers in bloom, and trees are budding in soft whites, violets, and greens.  The air became warm, grass grew, and the animals began to enter birthing season.

Within one week, we had around 14 lambs and kids (baby goats) born on our farm.  Little, black legs began to jump and skip around the pasture.  Frantic "maa"s filled the air as babies forgot their play and realized that their milk source was half-way across the pasture.  Quick skips and hops ensued, colorful streaks across the green grass.

Although I wish that happy picture was farm life in its entirety, there was more.  Despite the newborns, getting a dozen eggs a day, and happy dogs in spring air, the temperature dropped.

My 15 year old brother left yesterday to attend the Christian Worldview Film Festival in Franklin TN.   To say it simply, he's #1 in charge of watching over the sheep and goats.  So when he left, I was pulled into animal duty with my sister (who is also an animal pro).  After only a handful of hours, things turned sour.

Night arrived, and we stayed up until midnight.  Between dozing, my sister and I prayed for and watched a weak lamb struggle between life and death.  And then as the clock struck twelve, it gave in and grew still - perfect, little, white body.

Morning dawned, and we dragged ourselves out of bed.  Or, I did.  My sister was feeling sick, so I became the primary animal caretaker.   Me with my love of goats.  (I mean, they're cute...but...?)  Watching, feeding, herding, and taking care of 35+ animals didn't sound the most fun way to spend my week

But it's exciting.  I'm excited to see the new arrivals on our farm.  I'm excited to step out and do something I don't normally do.  I'm excited to discover how God uses it to stretch and grow me (He's already started!).

Farm life isn't always beautiful.  It's not always fun.  But in every area of life - including chores and long nights and tears - He's eager to shape us into the person we were meant to be: a person with a heart like His.

It reminds me of Solomon's words.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
    And a time to die...
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance; 

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

After I woke up this morning, I stared outside the window.  The dark shapes of trees stood with a crown of snow.  White flakes covered the spring grass and swept around hills.  With sunlight streaming upon blinding whiteness, the world glistened fresh and beautiful and soft.

Because in every moment of life, there's beauty.  Despite everything, He is strong.

If you're spending a week on the farm, struggling with balancing all the tasks on your shoulders, or feeling alone when a friend leaves your side, remember that there's whiteness in a dark world.  There's hope.  There's love.  There's a purpose.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

- Jeremiah 29:11-13

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

- Romans 8:35, 37

~♥~