A Gift

Happy month of May from all of us at The Farm!  

"Restoring our century farm, one project at a time" is the tagline for The Farm.  I post on Instagram (@thefarmatcrowderscreek) about our projects and I love to blog about what we have going on, especially when I am able to write about a completed project!  Yet, we seem to live in the midst of projects that feel like they will never end.  Repairing fence, installing new fence, repairing the roof on the workshop, gardening, seeding, taking care of the livestock, beekeeping...whew, what a list! This farm is indeed a busy place!

Since the late fall of 2020, we have been in the middle of a huge timber project, clearing trees for larger pastures.  The extremely wet winter we had here in North Carolina slowed the stumping and clearing part of the project to a crawl, and sometimes a halt.  We thought the expanded pastures would be fertilized and seeded in March, yet here we are still stumping and clearing in May, missing the spring window to seed.  It's hard to be patient, even when we know that some things are out of our control.  I don't know if anyone else can relate or not, but I know it sure is hard for me!  

So, the other morning, when I took Charley (my sweet Goldendoodle) outside, I heard the church bells in the distance and I paused, just to take it all in.  As soon as I recognized the tune, I turned on my phone to capture the moment.  Take a listen below:

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be;
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed;
to turn, turn, will be my delight.
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Tune Simple Gifts by Joseph Brackett

Many years ago, Joseph Brackett composed this song, and as I remembered the lyrics, I stopped in my tracks and thought that it is indeed a gift to pause, to slow down and to appreciate the here and now. At that exact moment, through that song and those bells ringing out, God gave me a lesson. Rooted right where I am, at this particular moment, things are as they should be. He is in control and it is all truly a gift.

Merriam Webster defines a gift as a notable capacity, talent, or endowment. When I slow down to look around me and reflect on what has been endowed to me, I can’t help but smile and be grateful for the gifts of children, grandchildren and the life we continue to build together here at The Farm. Through one project after another, through each challenge or difficulty that life brings, to experience it all here at the farm is a indeed a gift.

The pasture project is slowly moving forward, we can picture what it is going to look like when it is finally finished, and we know that it will be worth it. So, whatever project or season of life you find yourself in the midst of today, may you feel a sense of calm and simplicity in the moment.

Meanwhile, as I type this, it is raining again, so I am going to do my best to be patient. The pasture project may have another temporary pause for a few days, but I am going to choose to be thankful for the gifts in my life, grateful for another day to take it all in and remember that things are just as they should be!

Have a wonderful day whatever you may be doing! Thanks for reading my posts and subscribing to the blog. Please know that I will be keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers, as this life we all are navigating can be challenging. Take care and #BeLight!