Wednesday, August 8, 2012

"Fishing" for Abundance

A drought of thankfulness can leave a soul as dry as the prairie grasses in our pastures. Like the curled, brown leaves on the drought-stricken milo stalks, ungratefulness leaves us brittle and used up, not much good for anything other than complaining.

When I was in high school, I was in a play. I honestly don't remember the name of it. What I do remember is a line I delivered:

"Oh woe is me! Oh lack-a-day!"

I certainly wasn't competing with Meryl Streep for an Academy Award, though I did fool my Grandpa Neelly who didn't know me behind the stage makeup and the gray hair.

Wouldn't it be great if another reason he didn't recognize me was because the "woe-is-me" attitude was so foreign to my nature?

We all face droughts. It may be a literal drought like we've experienced on the farm these past two summers. It may be a drought caused by worry, loss, death, heartache, a family situation, illness or another curveball from just living life. It's easy to get caught up in the lack instead of the abundance.
“The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Norman Vincent Peale
After we rode the 4-wheeler across the dry pastures, my ever-optimistic husband said, "Let's go fishing!" It's good to live with a glass-half-full kind of guy. It was a cooler day, one where the thermometer wasn't racing its way upwards past the 100-degree mark.

As I sat by the river with my feet up and the fishing pole dangled in the water, a few hymns drifted through my mind, like the clouds that floated across the sky giving a few moments of relief.

When I opened my church bulletin the next morning, the very first song was one that provided my afternoon mental soundtrack, All Things Bright and Beautiful.

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all.
 Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
God made their glowing colors
And made their tiny wings

 The purple-headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning 
That brightens up the sky.

 The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden
God made them every one.

 God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell.
How great is God Almighty
Who has made all things well.
 
Wishing you a day when you see the abundance and not the drought!

***
I'm linked today to Iowa farm wife and blogger Jennifer's God-Bumps and God-Incidences at Getting Down with Jesus.

16 comments:

  1. Very well done Kim - Photographs and Words!

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    1. I appreciate positive comments from a pro like you! You made my day.

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  2. I loved this, Kim! Every word from your opening paragraph to your ending struck me to the heart. And how perfect to see your photos matched up to each stanza of All Things Bright and Beautiful. Thank you!

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  3. I appreciate your faithfulness in reading and commenting, Cindy! Thanks for the affirmation!

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  4. Another great and inspiring post, Kim. Love your creativity making the photos match the song stanzas.

    I am lucky enough to live with a "glass half full" type of guy too.

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    1. Thanks Robyn! Yes, we are both blessed in many ways, including with our wonderful farmers/ranchers!

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  5. Anne thinks this is
    great!!!!! Me too.
    Thanks.
    Ron

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  6. I can't decide which I like more . . . your clicks or your commentary.

    Just lovely, Kim.

    Blessings to you! (and thanks for visiting me)

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment, too!

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  7. Hi Kim,

    We finally got a bit of rain here. Not enough to help the corn much, but our soybeans will be a lot happier! :)

    Hope and pray you get some rain soon. (Such pretty photos!)

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    1. I'm happy for you that you got rain. We maybe got a few sprinkles on the sidewalk, certainly nothing measurable. And thanks for hosting God Bumps and for stopping by!

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  8. Having grown up in Stafford, I really enjoy your blog. This was an absolutely lovely entry. You must have spent a lot of time on this entry and it was simply beautiful. Have a wonderful day and thank you for sharing.

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    1. Cathy - Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and to let me know you are a regular reader. That made my day!

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