Thursday, April 2, 2015

Putting Things Back Into Perspective

The past couple of weeks has really been a test of wills.  There has been several things that has happened that has really taken us a few steps back.  Usually every Spring is a time to rejoice: the weather if warming up, you get the equipment out readying it for the fieldwork ahead, and the daily chores get so much easier due to not having to deal with snow or ice!  But this Spring, it has come in more like a lion then anything even close to a lamb.

I won't really get into the details of what is going on, nor do I want to make it sound like I am whining or complaining because I understand that there are so many more people out there that are walking a path that is so much more harder than mine.  So what is the reason that I am even writing this blog?  Because God is always watching you, in your hard times, in your struggles, and your frustrations.  Do you get mad, yell, stress-out, or become something that you are not proud of?  I am guilty of every single one of those, on a daily basis.  But I believe he watches you during these times for a very specific reason...he is watching to see how YOU respond and react during those hard times.  Are you going to glorify him during those times?  Are you going to walk these struggles with a grateful heart and a loving attitude?  How are going to deal with the pressure of this life?  I believe if you celebrate God in not only the easy, good times but also in the bad, he is just waiting to dump piles of blessings in your life.  I also believe that God will do something to re-put back everything into perspective!  One reminder of that exact thing came this morning in the form of an e-mail.  We have no comprehension of how what we do in our life effects others, and even how far those ripples go.  I'm sharing this e-mail not to show anything about me, my family, or my farm.  I am sharing this to show that you do matter, you do make a difference, someone is affected by you, you may just not know it.  So here is my reminder to let go of the struggles...maneuver through them with a humble heart...and YOU are so much greater than what you think (has been edited for privacy):

........."Hello Jennifer,
I Am Sam from Uganda, 36 years old, married to Lydia with Two Kids, Samson my eldest son and my daughter Arisa.
Am a cost accountant with Nokia while my wife is a banker with Finca. Having working for seven years, we realized our dream is farming and particularly Dairying.
I have just read your article and you do know how happy and motivated I became.
I really can’t stop reading it.
We started by buying land and now we have 25 acres and we know we shall keep adding, have acquired a walking tractor, and bought two cow milking machines. We are planting corn this April and will plan to turn into silage.
we are now constructing a shallow well to have clean water before we build the cow houses.
Our target  is to kick start bringing in cows by August this year.
Let me know if there is something I should know before is kick start.
I appreciate your article.
Thanks and regards

Sam"............

Quite a humbling email to open up this morning.  I didn't even remember what specific article he was talking about, so I clicked on the link and re-read 'Why I Love Being a Dairy Farmer'.  Talk about gaining some perspective!!!  So instead of the negative I will focus on the positive, for I have much to be grateful for, and I am sure that you do too.