Fun on the Farm

This weekend, some friends of ours were out of town, and we got to take care of their farm.  It is always fun and exciting for us to get to do that.  My kids love to go to the farm.  There is always something interesting that happens.  Last year, we took care of the farm for a week and as I went into the pen to feed the ducks I found that there was a bull snake laying on the duck eggs instead of a duck.  This happened not once but twice!  One of the snakes was about 4 feet long and the other was 5.  I’m not a big fan of snakes…

Anyway, there was nothing quite as exciting as that this year.  However, there are always stories to tell and lessons to learn.  Their son has a Holstein “bucket calf” that he is raising for 4-H.  The calf is just as tame and sweet as she can be.  I had been petting her quite a bit.  Therefore, I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal to get her in her pen to feed her.  She has to be separated while she eats so the steer doesn’t try to get in and eat her feed.  I tried to coax her into the pen, even putting the bucket of feed up to her nose, and she wouldn’t come.  So, I put the bucket down and tried to gently pull her halter.  She wouldn’t budge.  Then, I pulled a little harder and the halter came off.  Well, goofy me then tried to put my arm around her neck as if I was some kind of steer wrestler and pull her into the pen (No worries – no animals were harmed in the making of this story!).  Thinking back on it, I don’t know why I did that.  I guess I was on a mission and was going to get that calf in there if it killed me.  Anyway, she’s bigger than I thought (or I’m not as strong as I thought), because I still couldn’t get her to move.  I think she thought it was a game because she was just standing there looking at me like, “Okay, now what.”  I obviously hadn’t upset or scared her.  I really didn’t want to get behind her because I know how calves can kick, and I was about to try the ol’ pulling the tail up over the back trick when my 5 year old grabbed the feed bucket and said come on baby, you can do it.  That calf just followed her right into the pen making me look like a complete idiot.  I felt like saying, “My name is daddy and I may have a degree in animal science, but I am not smarter than a 5 year old!”  Oh, the gentleness of a child.  It was a beautiful picture watching the calf follow my little girl into the pen.  I think she saw my daughter’s big brown eyes and thought, “Hey, we could be sisters.” 

I commended my daughter on doing something that I couldn’t do.  I praised her for doing a job well done.  I think she sensed my pride was a little bruised and she said, “It’s okay, Daddy.  I’ve been out here more than you have and I think she is just more used to me.”  Of course, later when her sisters were around, she said, “I did something Daddy couldn’t do, right Daddy?”  “Yep, honey, you sure did,” was about all I could say.

Later on, I thought a lot about how this applies to life.  Too many times, we, especially men, try to use brute strength and force to do something that is really better accomplished with gentleness.  In fact, the child I’m talking about is much like that calf in that she is very stubborn and strong willed.  If we get into a “battle”, she will dig in her heels and often has to be physically moved.  Fortunately, she’s not 200+ lbs…  However, the more gentle and patient I am, the better she responds.  Too often, I go the wrong route because I’m just too tired and busy to stop and take the time to be patient and gentle.  I’m beginning to see the value of the saying, “less is more.”  Less stuff, less busyness = less stress, more abundant life.  I’m depending on God’s grace to help us to find balance and for me to be more patient.

May God give you patience and gentleness today in dealing with those around you!