Growing Up Agrarian
This past year has been a rough one. Many times I’ve wondered to myself, “why one earth I’m I doing this”. Trying to live a biblical agrarian life in a pagan economic system is trying, to say the least. Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard you work, no matter how hard you try, things only go from bad to worse. Days when I’m ready to throw in the towel and admit defeat, my children more often than not are the ones to remind me to keep faith in a God who dosen’t dish out more than we can handle. They remind me of all the blessing we have, and help me to forget all the things we don’t have. Like when we sat down to eat the other day, I told the boys it was time to pray. Before I could start, Noah who is 2, starts in…..”God, forgive our debts, thank you for the food, thank you for lettin’ us have Buddy(his dog), thanks for lettin’ us have cows and chickens, thanks for givin’ us a good garden, thank you for the new baby we’re gettin’, please help the little baby thats sick get better. Thanks for lettin’ us have a farm…….Jesus name…..Amen.” Now Noah started off on his own, but after “forgive our debts” John was wispering the rest in his ear. They make a good team. If this farm dose nothing else, it gives these children a great place to live and a life that most folks only dream about. John gets up early and goes to the barn about every other day now. I let him get his sleep the odd days. He would rather go every morning. They both go every day, but John is the morning helper. He, at 4 years old, is already more help than most highschool age kids I’ve had work here. He is learning to milk now. He can get most of the cows ready to milk and even puts the milkers on some of them. He is learning how to move cattle around, to watch the head and get them moving in the right direction. He has a real gift for working with animals. We killed the last of the chickens the other day. That was Noahs day to be Dads helper. We went to the pen to get some birds and Noah says, “Lets turn ‘em into carcasses, Dad!” After I killed the first one he had some questions about why we had to kill them and such. After I explained it all to him he begged me to let him kill one. I helped him hold the knife and the little guy went work. He killed 4 chicken that day. His other job was running the plucker. He took this job very serously. He would run out and turn on the water and flip the switch on. I told him he was such a good chicken farmer that next year I would get him some to raise and sell for himself. His eyes got real big, a smile come over his face and he says, “Can I have my own little knife too?” As any father would say, I replied, “You better talk to your momma about that”. I am convinced of this, that there is no better place to raise covenant children than on the family farm. For that reason, I keep plugin’ away.
July 20th, 2006 at 6:23 am
I am ALWAYS blessed when I read about your boys. Nobody I read has a better grasp than you on the why and how of raising covenant children. Some understand the theology; others the practical agrarian outworking. You have grasped both ends, and your boys are going to reap eternal benefits. You are one of my heroes. Keep pluggin’ away!
July 20th, 2006 at 9:52 am
Thanks for this post, Scott. I really needed to be reminded about what is important in life because today has been a discouraging day as far as child raising goes. I need to remember the big picture, and not get bogged down by the daily discoragements… By the way, this morning is the second the chicks have been back out and we haven’t lost any more, praise God!! Nothing in the traps, though.
July 20th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
JFC: Pfthpppp! or :P. So, I can’t talk the theology and can live it out. Go see Amy Scott’s post today! (This is all in fun and good humor BTW)
Scott:
This year has been hard on many farmers. We have had one trial after another here on the farm. Our show cow died after her first calf, tractor had the axle ripped off, 25 chickens died of heat stroke, White Rocks turned out to be smaller than cornish game hens, our building is going to cost double what we were told, lost triplets, replacement tractor is sitting at our neighbor’s hay shed with a hydrolic leak…it was the first time we used it. The list continues too. I mean, we are on edge wondering what will happen next. But, I think the true farmers, true Christians weather out these storms and glorify God no matter what.
It is a joy to read of your hope in the midst of trials!! Blessings to you and Leah!!
July 21st, 2006 at 6:38 am
I too appreciated this post. Last year started out for us with a family matter that literally knocked me off my prayer stool. Something specific I had prayed about for years, prayed with faith, prayed fervently and I believe was God’s will. However, something happened that won’t let it be now. Then in late August, I got bacterial meningitis and all but died. I went from Farm Girl who did her chores each day, to having it take all my strength to walk to the bathroom. It took months to gain that back (Praise the Lord, I have very few residual effects). While still recovering from that, my dear sweet Mom was very unexpectedly and suddenly promoted on home to heaven. Her side of the family all lives to be in their 90’s or even 102. I was not ready to be done with her here on earth. We have a large list like KS Milkmaid of broken equipment, cars not running, sick animals, etc. However, God IS still on the throne. My Mom dying has been the hardest path I have ever walked. I still miss her like crazy and weep often. I don’t know what I would have done without the Lord. He has been so faithful, especially to my Dad. They were married 53 years. She cooked, cleaned, did laundry, etc. I have been in Florida several times trying to help him learn these skills and to keep him company. However, my Dad would be the first to tell you that God is the one who has kept him.
Enjoy your time with your children, trials or not. Too soon, they are grown up. You are living in precious times. My son is 22. God only chose to give us one so far. We still hope for more. Times now are precious too, but there is a sweetness when they are little that matures into a different relationship. May God lift you up!!!!
July 22nd, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Scott, I am blessed once again by your candid truth and steadfast profession of faith in the midst of trial. Seeking to live a biblical agrarian life within the confines of a pagan debt-based economy is extremely hard, though highly rewarding. This is all the more reason that Christians need to come together in covenant community where they can, by God’s grace and providence, build local economies where they can support and bless one another.
July 24th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Sometimes when I forget the direction I’m going, or as I say - “feelin’ stretched” over things going on, or just need a break from things in general a good dose of “Little House on the Prairie” episodes set my mind at ease.
I know it’s no substitute for allot of other more valuable lessons, bible, hard work, prayer and all. But it sure beats the morning paper these days. If that don’t work, then just watch a bunch of chickens for a while…………sets my mind at ease, so I can concentrate on the ‘important matters’.
Regards.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Scott,
You are an inspiration, man. I sruggle not to envy you. Your boys are blessed to have you as a father.
I wish I would have reformed earlier in the lives of my children so that I wouldn’t have to deal with so much garbage that I put in their heads myself. I trust God’s grace though, to make up for my ignorance.