Merry Christmas from A Farm Wife - Repost


Merry Christmas from West Michigan.

A day makes no difference to the farm.



Cows still need to be milked, fed and bedded.

Calves will be born.

Barns will be scraped.



If necessary, snow will be plowed to get the milk truck and employees in and out.



And it goes without saying - frozen pipes will be thawed, the broken will be fixed and whatever goes wrong will be righted.



The cows have no clue that today should be a day with family and friends.

As a farmer, we don't "do" holidays. We don't always get to punch out on Christmas Eve day and think "It's so nice to be off for a couple of days." 

There will be some parties, concerts and gatherings we will have to miss because the cows don't milk, feed or take care of themselves.



On the flip side – we get to watch God at work.

Watching a calf being born is nothing short of a miracle.




Seeing him decorate the barnyard and trees with the beautiful snow is awe inspiring.

When I walk through the farm I am calmed and a feeling of content floods over me.



And, at this time of year I sit a moment in the maternity pen. A new calf is “toasting” under the heat lamp, still wet and her hair is curled and swirled. It’s quiet with muffled sounds of the cows moving about, the sounds of a tractor dumping off feed in another barn, a chicken struts by. 



There’s a group of barn cats huddled together waiting for something exciting to lure them away from the warmth of each other. I can see my breath as I breathe but I am warm all the way through to my soul.

As I am contemplating life I let my imagination take me back to that first Christmas and what it might have been like.



For Mary, no smiling nurses, bright lights, or reassuring words were spoken. A manger would be her son’s bed. It wasn't a glittered covered manger. It was smelly, full of animals. Mary shared the straw with mice and spiders. Lantern light, the sound of animals shuffling in the manure filled bedding was the ambiance.

No running water to clean up, no heated blankets to comfort a worn out body. No baby blue hand knitted cap was placed on the child's head.

Even though - the hand of God was there. Sacrifice was there. Mercy was there. Grace was there. Salvation was there. 

And I believe Mary was filled with joy.



We, here on the farm, feel blessed to be the caretakers of the land and critters that God gave us.



I would not trade my spot in this world for anything.

At this time of year I want to wish every single person a very Merry Christmas filled with joy, family, love, peace and goodness.

My hope is that we spread our blessings as this New Year begins.





Farmer made this Star of David for me.









Farm Mom - Tough Job

Great Farm Related Christmas Gift for the Littles in your Life

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