a farmer's daughter

Autumn...
leaves turning
beautiful shades of yellows
oranges and reds
and falling gently with
cool breezes
a time of harvest

farmers and their families out
harvesting the fruits of
spring seed plantings
wives praying for their husband's
safety as they work long hours
with big equipment
lunches out in the field
precious moments
together
trucks filled with grain
traveling to sell
at nearby towns
"Harvest is done!"
seasons to celebrate

my daddy will always be a
farmer...a hard-working
man of the earth...
an innovator
who figures out new and better ways
to work through something that isn't quite
going the best way it could...
a gardener on massive scale...
a lover of seeing things accomplished...
one who cares for God's creation
and makes it grow and produce...

Thank you, Dad, for
teaching me to
never be afraid of getting my hands dirty...
showing me what good, hard work looks like...
modeling for me the importance of leading with work gloves.
You have taught me so very many things,
and although I did not marry a farmer,
I am using so many of those things in my life
as a farmer's daughter and pastor's wife.

seeds are still planted,
seasons still change,
and harvests are seasons of celebration
with LOTS of hard work in between...

thank you, Dad!

A bit of perspective...

Just a few days ago, I was grumbling...yes, grumbling.  I am by no means "OK"ing my choice to complain.  I'm just admitting that I was just there.  In.  a.  pit.  And I was very happy to remain there.  I had been grumbling about something I was doing and felt obligated...doing something just because it had to be done and was the right thing.  BUT not at all because I WANTED to do it and I was definitely NOT cheerful about it.  Ever been there?

I knew I should not be feeling like that.  I tried to pull myself out.  I said Bible verses that would be encouraging...I tried to sing...I even made a call to a good friend...and yes, I prayed.  But I still wanted to drop-kick the situation.  Yes...drop it...and kick it...far, far away.  Nothing I did seemed to help.

That same night, my husband and I went to pray with a family...a family put on a course they would have never chosen for themselves.  And you know what?  The walls of that pit I had been in just melted away when I thought of the enormity of the situation they are facing and the absolutely pitifully miniscule thing I was set on complaining about.

Perspective...reality...both hit me like a ton of bricks.  What in the world was I thinking?!  Who cares honestly about the nitty when this family is facing the gritty...the yuck...the gut-wrenching.

I can hear my mom telling me, "Jennie, get out there and do something for someone else."  And you know what?!  She's right.  When I feel that awful pit trying to suck me into its bottomlessness, I want to remember this...helping someone else out can give a person a healthy perspective of the blessings that God has given and the ways that He has set me back on a good path instead of being stuck.

****************************
Lord,
Thank You for the reminder...
that You do have a good plan...
that I can trust You, even when I don't understand or LIKE the scenario...
that as You remove one thing, You replace it with something even better...
that I can live with a thankful heart even when I don't FEEL like it...

AND thank You for my wise mom!

Writing again...

I think it has almost been a year since I've written anything.  I can hardly even bring myself to write in my journal, which is an absolute oddity.  But that is OK...it is OK to just do something different.  Can't believe all of the things that have happened in this past year!  Our boys have grown like WEEDS!  Joshua is now taller than me and wearing shoes bigger than his daddy...Austin is soon going to be looking people eye to eye...

In the past year, I have started working at the local Garden Center more regularly...made lots of fun rugs and now have 4 craft shows on the calendar in the next month...attended more sporting events than I can count (and LOVED them, I might add)...AND started leading Bible study again.

I have learned so very much...
**life is hard, but not too hard when I'm depending on God to fill me with His strength...
**not everything in life requires a response...
**waiting can be extremely difficult, but does not have to be still and boring...it can be filled with activity...
**no matter what happens, God is still good and I can trust in Him...
**tears and laughter are both very healing...
**if it's not in my circle of responsibility, I don't need to think about it, analyze it, or deal with it...it's not mine...

So very thankful...