For years, John and I have dreamed of our one day homestead.
The perfect piece of open land, spanning a minimum of 30 acres, with fertile pastures, a corner woodlot and creek running through. Various farm animals would be strategically placed to utilize the natural resources of the property, and provide our family with meat, eggs, and milk. Our colonial style home, with two chimneys and wraparound front porch, would welcome our children and guests warmly through its doors. The inside of which would be spacious, simply decorated, and full of laughter and joy.
In contrast, we are bursting the seams of our current, rented 1200 sq ft townhouse. Our six children spill out onto the postage size yard and driveway to play. Our cats are at grandma and grandpa’s farm, and there is a patch of ground to plant in beneath the front window by the trash cans. A huge blessing is our ability to go to my parents’ farm. The kids get to run and play, and we get to help with the garden and the animals. We can always choose laughter and joy.
There are days when I wonder if we’ll ever achieve our homestead dreams.
The present can feel so confining, and the waiting, endless. That’s when I have to take special care to remember that God does have a plan for our lives and to thank Him for all of the blessings that He has already given to our family. I must believe that it is the best plan. I can have these grand dreams and desires, but I must first be willing to accept and love where our Lord has me and my family right now. I must believe that He does all things and permits the sequence of our lives for our good.
There are moments when He allows me to feel His love and provision very acutely, and my soul floods with gratitude.
Just this past weekend, we were standing in the checkout line at tractor supply getting brooder supplies for our chicks (a new venture that my husband is spearheading). I was suddenly hit with that overwhelming sense of gratitude. Here we were purchasing supplies for a venture that is part of our homesteading dream. We may not have the whole package yet, but we still have the opportunity to pursue bits and pieces of that dream right now. For so long I held myself down to the thought that we needed to have our own property to start raising chickens, but it took my husband taking the reins to show me that I was wrong. In this I’m again reminded to give my dreams and desires over to God.
How often do we hold onto our own ideas, thinking that it is the only way possible for us?
God has proven to me time and time again that He has an even better way. I think that something can’t be done (at least not for me), and He proves me wrong – time and time again. My thoughts, dreams, desires, and ambitions are hindered by the realities of the world. God is not hindered by time or space. He is the creator of all things, and He can do the impossible. Instead of remembering this, I put God in a box and dare think that I can tell Him how my life should go. Now I go forward with another powerful lesson:
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