I've been thinking of this post for a week, just mulling it over in my mind. I'm still not sure I have it all worked out but I wanted to share it before too much time had passed.
I know and work for some extraordinary people. We in agriculture and sometimes small towns know these types of people and sad to say it seems there used to be more of these people- people who stop what they are doing to help someone in need. Maybe it's not that there are less of them but maybe there are just more people who are just more self-involved.
Last Saturday I went to a funeral. She was an amazing lady and her family is in my top 5 favorite families that I work with. They haven't done anything special except they are good friends who really care about people. They volunteer their time with many groups in the community and state. They encourage people and believe in them so that you want to do your best for them. On the way home I was recalling the last year of this family and their battle with cancer and all that entails.What got me thinking about how special our farmers and ranchers are is the group of farmers that stepped in and helped them.
They went above and beyond what most people may have done. They planted fields for them. When this all started last year, it was time to plant the cotton but the family was so far behind because of the time spent at the doctors or traveling to appointments so they were going to scale back the acreage. This means their entire farm income was going to be less (read entire year's business income is reduced). I even offered to help- I've never planted cotton before but it can't be that much different from most hay or alfalfa crops and it had been a decade or so since I'd really spent anytime in a tractor. It was my way to help since I don't live close to bring meals or pop in and check on them. They didn't need my help because some of the local young farmers (25-30ish) stepped in. In the middle of planting their own cotton they pulled into this family's fields and started planting their cotton. They really didn't have to do it and they were all so busy. It's not like it would only be an hour or so commitment. It can take several hours to plant a field depending on the size. They only had a few weeks to get their cotton seeds planted before it was too late and this is their crop for their entire year- their whole farm income is protected based on what gets planted in those weeks. These fields aren't just the size of your yard but rather the size of your subdivision. They also are planting different varieties (trying to see what will work best) so it's not like they can keep planting. They sometimes have to clean out the planter and replace the seed if they are moving fields. And the planters aren't that small. For these guys they usually try and start the first ten days in April and then try and finish in the first 10-15 days in May. It can change depending on temperature, rain and even elevation (sometimes it can be a little longer or smaller based on where you might live geographically). The window is narrow and yet they stopped what they were doing to help a fellow farmer in need. Not because they had to but because they wanted to. They didn't do it for the pats on the back or the warm fuzzy feelings they did it because they love and respect them as friends. They did this extraordinary act because they are humble and if the roles were reversed this family would be right there planting their cotton. And to top it off- they are far to humble to tell anyone about it so I'm sharing because it was a lesson that reminded me of the community I grew up in as a kid.
I've experienced this in my own community growing up and it left an impression on me. My dad helped a neighbor feed their cows when their mother had passed away. He actually cracked his hip on of the days and missed the funeral. He was so upset because he didn't get to pay his respects but he had helped the family meet a need. I really experienced it when Dad had his first open hear surgery. People stepped up to warm the house, help with gas bills to cover trips to Portland, even some of his medical procedures were covered to the point that I am eternally grateful for those who helped me because I was so overwhelmed and was just trying to put one foot in front of the other and manage to get done what I thought I could handle. Dad wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them.
Even today, there are a few diamonds among the lumps of coal. My dad's now retired and spends a few months with me but there are a few friends who help him drain his house and another who usually goes over to the house and starts a fire so the long winter chill is off the house by the time Dad has made it from the airport to the house. Not everyone does this anymore as I think we as society are becoming more self absorbed or afraid to stop and help a person because we don't have time or we are afraid of doing it wrong, being sued, or we don't even realize there is a person in need.
This whole past year, those young men helped this family through prayer, words of encouragement, planting a crop but also just being there for them as friends, confidants and anything else they may need. It was a lesson that God used to remind me that we are to love our brothers as we love ourselves. It was a great testament to the respect of the family but also the respect and love these young men have for their neighbors. But why are we so surprised by someone does something so extra ordinary when in reality it should be just an every day ordinary event?
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