Hello Friends!
I’ve been praying for many of you. The Lord seems to bring you to mind as I drive, work on the farm, or lay my head on my pillow. I am honored to pray. It has made me mindful of the fact that it’s been awhile since I’ve shared.
Life has been full in the home and on the farm. As I told a friend tonight, “I’m always learning… it must mean I’m living!” Learning just seems to be a daily activity over here. This last weekend, my Joe and I took a drive together and discussed failure as part of success. The children had lost all but four of our meat birds due to a communication error between them. One told the other to give the chickens water. That child, not familiar with chickens, gave them water but forgot to open their cage to let them get the water. It was disappointing for everyone. Money was lost as well as our hopes of putting some chickens up in the freezer and yet, all was not lost. Everyone in the home learned something, something we can take with us as we continue to care for God’s creatures.
When we have moments like this in our home it’s vital for us to keep the family attention on how we can learn and do better instead of beating one another up. I’m happy to say that while everyone understood the gravity of the situation there was no angry words spoken, loud voices, or criticism spoken. Again, something we’ve learned… controlling our tongues in times of crisis brings control to an out of control moment.
We’ve got the back pasture fence done so that the animals can freely walk about and eat. That brings my heart so much happiness to see. We’ve been working hard on this project. While we do have two more pastures in the works… this one is done and for that we will praise God! Another lesson we’ve learned, praise Him and those around us for the work that IS done instead of grumble about what still isn’t finished.
Samuel took the position as shepherd today as he guarded the sheep to make sure that they didn’t find holes in the new fence. I watched him and thought about how much he’s grown. He’s a little boy we’ve adopted that has FAS. Doctors and specialists have told us not to expect much and yet, my Joe and I have learned another lesson: God can do what man says is impossible! I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before, Duty is ours, results are God’s. We’ll teach him and train him and leave the results with God. I must also tell you God has done GREAT things in Samuels life. We are richly blessed with this treasure of a little boy that God has given us.
Talking to mom tonight, I was sharing with her what we’ve learned from chickens. She was telling me about the stress at her work and how people act so carelessly toward one another when under stress. I told her, “I don’t know if they would understand this analogy but here on the farm we have a saying.” When we’re under stress and tension is mounting if I witness the children behaving poorly I’ll tell them, “We are Christians NOT cannibals!”
Have you ever watched Chickens? I’ve witnessed them peck one another to death under two conditions. If there is a chicken that is different than they are or if a chicken is injured they will peck at the chicken until eventually they kill it. We’ve had to separate chickens just for this reason on more than one occasion. I’ve often thought about how humans are the same way. It seems like when people are different than us or hurting that is when you see others “peck” them to the point of death. Let us be careful as Christians that we do not behave in such a way! “We’re Christians NOT cannibals!”
I’ve learned, 23 years and ten children later that my boys love to hear me screech when they put plastic bugs around the house. I’ve learned to count those times as precious and cherish them…. They’ll end before I know it.
The list could go on and on of things I am learning, have learned, and still have to learn. I guess that proves it, I’m living!
Enjoy this slide show of some of the moments in my life today!
With much love,
Mrs. Joseph Wood
Mrs. Joseph Wood
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