I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas letters. Some of them drive me crazy…all about perfect families with perfect kids and perfect years. Some of them are great, like the one I opened this morning. It was from my mom’s cousin, East Burke who still lives on the farm that my mom grew up on in Kahoka, Missouri (the Clark County seat!). East’s wife, Beth wrote the Christmas letter, which included references to the Cattleman’s Convention (they hope to go), calves (they sold some), crops (harvested), ground (being prepared) and planting (coming up in the Spring). As I read the letter, I was overwhelmed with memories of visiting the farm as a child. We went once a year for a week and the joys for my brothers and I (suburban kids) were amazing:
- Gathering eggs
- Milking cows
- Kicking sheep (I always felt bad about that, but my grandpa Cappy Stewart–the farmer– did it, so it seemed OK). He explained to me that sheep are really dumb and they need a swift kick to figure things out. So, the whole Bible theme of us being sheep–not such a compliment, you know? That’s for another blog post.
- Shooting a rifle
- Hay riding
- Barn playing
- Using the outhouse
I will be sad when there are no more Christmas letters from the farm. There is something about the farm that seems closer to the Source of life. God’s provision is natural and clear. I am feeling grateful today for Grandma (Lelia) and Grandpa Stewart and the life they made on the farm. I am feeling grateful to God for the ways He has made Himself evident in my life and the family members who have gone before me…the great cloud of witnesses:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:1-2
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Tags: Christmas letters, Farm, grandparents, Kahoka
