Day 364

There really is no rest for the weary at the farm. Even when I do have small pockets of time to do nothing, I can’t. Part of this constant craziness is certainly self inflicted, but the responsibilities of farm life can’t be understated.

I jokingly tease (and get teased) by friends and colleagues who don't have kids and/or live in a more manageable space about the vast differences in our lives. At times, I do get envious and wish I didn’t have a certain task to complete. But this is not an uncommon issue for most people. 

All of us need a break, a chance to restore body, mind, and soul. Life can be overwhelming for people of all different situations so trying to compare or “compete” against others is laughable to me. Treat other people, other places, and the world around you with kindness and compassion.

It also might be wise to learn a lesson from the garden.

Creating the garden took planning, persistence, and patience. But the fruits of that labor can be significant. With proper care and a whole ton of work, a garden can produce plenty of produce that can be used to sustain and support a family for a long period of time. This may require more effort and time than people are willing to commit to it, but if  you take care of the garden, the garden will take care of you.

But it also needs to rest.

And so do you.

One thing I need to remember to do is to take time to enjoy the process AND the product. As I look out into my yard, I currently see a garden at rest. 

Resting and waiting. Resting and waiting. Resting and waiting.

While full of potential and promise, none of that would come to fruition if it doesn't get the time to recharge and restore itself so that it can get back to what it does best come spring.

To be our best, we need to rest. Resting our bodies. Resting our thoughts. Resting our actions.

When we do, we too can be like the garden. Ready to burst forth with a bounty of beautiful blessings.