“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it…you provide the people with grain. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The …meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for you.”     Psalm 65   

I am blessed to live in a beautiful area, surrounded by dairy farms, apple orchards, rolling fields lined with stone walls, and literal green pastures with still waters. The views all around me restore my soul. I am indebted to the people who make that beauty possible – the farmers.

Even as I sometimes grumble when my alarm rouses me at 5:00 a.m., I remember that it is the middle of the day for the dairy farmers who got up in the dark to milk the cows.

On bitter cold days when snow and frigid breezes are howling past my window, I delight in sitting comfortably on my couch enjoying a cup of cocoa. The farmer doesn’t have that option, but must tend to chores that never stop, despite wind and weather.

The farmers I know display a hearty work ethic, an appreciation for the revolving seasons, gratitude for their families, and an ability to cope with whatever mishaps and challenges come their way.  I admire their way of life and am grateful that I benefit from their labors in so many ways.

I give thanks for the beauty of farms and the hard work of farmers.

What are you thankful for today?

Many thanks to  Chrissy Peckham Photography for the beautiful photos!