Takin on Hell with a squirt-gun!

Ok, I agree that’s probably a bit over dramatic!  But, well, you just don’t know my farmer man!

Facebook has such a lovely new feature of reminding us what we were doing five years ago, two years ago etc.  It is sometimes mundane, but often it is amazing.   I will be going about my normal morning check of the “small town newspaper” that is facebook, minding my own business and BAM! it shoots a memory out of nowhere!  Then, I am forced into self reflection – how much the baby has grown – how much our lives have changed . . .

Today, facebook reminded me that five years ago my husband had just come out of his second surgery and I was updating our broad array of friends, church folks, and family.  We were in the midst of a battle.  It was a tough day for the farmer man.  Second round of pain, we didn’t know yet that even that was not going to work and we would be in for surgery number three several months later.

But, one of the things I admire most about my farmer man, when the same characteristic isn’t driving me completely insane – is that once he decides that he is going to meet the challenge, step up, and just DO THIS – there is no stopping him!  He is blithely undaunted by obstacles large and small.  Things that would make me pack up and go home, don’t even cause him a moments pause.

So, when my husband first allowed Jesus to become the Lord of his life, a pastor friend and I would joke that he could take on hell with a squirt gun!  I love that about him!  Three surgeries and a couple years of recovery almost snuck that trait away from him, but eventually he returned to his regular, squirt gun wielding self.  So, he attacks 29.5 acres of overgrown, brambled fields with a fancy weedeater!  If we have no agenda, he takes his weedeater and heads out the door to one section or another.  At this point, I am a bit overwhelmed by the piles of cut up stuff that are laying around waiting for us to mulch them up.  It looks jumbled, I want a big broom to sweep it up!  He just picks a new place and works to make a path.

Some days reflection is good.  Five years out from the second surgery and yesterday he ran a weedeater (actually a STIHL something or other) for HOURS and cleared the top of the hill near the house.  It is hard to show the difference in photos.  I can’t seem to find the right place to shoot from to show it.  But, the difference isn’t only in the fields.

Thank You Lord for the luxury of reflection.  Thank You for allowing my husband to make it through the years when he didn’t know You, through that Friday at 4:03, through the years when church was challenging, through the day in the elevator, through the third surgery, through to this day and however many more we get to share.  Thank You for this farm, for not showing me your whole plan at once, for loving me so completely and never leaving me to struggle alone.  Thank You for a day when my husband can work outside and make progress toward his dreams.  Help us Lord to walk in the center of Your will, showing Your love and live in a way pleasing to You.