I’m writing this for those who have never experienced farm life and have no idea what happens. Also for those of us with memories, or living the life now. The skies are clear and the air is fresh and pure. No haze or smog. The sun shines bright during the day and the sky opens up wide at night with wonderful views of the moon and stars. You can see as far as your eyes will let you.
Life is not easy as a farmed/rancher, but is very rewarding. On our farm, we had 125 head of cattle that calved in the spring, 1280 acres of pasture, approximately 1300 acres of wheat, alfalfa, cane, prairie hay, oats, barley, and rye crops. We drove the tractors through the fields pulling equipment tilling the ground for new crops. We had haying equipment (Swathers, mowers, hay rakes, and balers) to put up the feed grain crops so we would have feed for the cattle in the winter time. There is nothing as succulent as the smell of fresh mowed hay or freshly tilled soil. The picture of combines coming through the land as they separate the grain from the stocks and the grain being augured into trucks to be taken to the elevator or bins for storage , is a picture of success, pleasure, pride, and satisfaction. We put up approximately 10,000 bales each summer from the alfalfa, cane, and prairie hay for the cattle feed. We also would bale wheat straw for bedding, so when winter came the cattle would have dry places to lay.
Our food was the best there is. We raised our own beef, pork, and chickens. We had farm fresh eggs, milk, cream, and vegetables from the garden. Mom would store vegetables and fruit in mason jars so we would have them in the winter time. Bing cherries were to kill for–so delicious.
Storms would come up as the sky would fill with huge bellowing clouds in the western sky line. In the summer time, that would mean thunder storms filled with moisture for the crops. A welcome to all unless there were hail stones in the clouds which would reek havoc on the crops. In the winter time those clouds would bring snow storms. If there was wind in the clouds with heavy snow, well, you can imagine the drifts and problems on the farm, especially when we had to keep the cattle fed. Getting tractors started and hauling hay to the cattle could almost become impossible, but somehow we always managed to get the job done. Life on the farm–rewarding, yes–hard work, yes, but what a satisfying way of life and when the skies clear everything is back to normal.
As I thought about this, I realized my walk as a Christian parallels in many ways. The work is hard (God never said it was going to be easy), the walk is as clear as the skies, it’s rewarding, and very satisfying. There will be storms that reek havoc, but won’t last long and after they pass, all will be back to normal. God will see you through those storms, if you let Him
Have a good week all!!
