The Macs » Blog

wheat harvest & envy

IMG_4319A strange title, I know. Hopefully by the end it will make sense. Summer just came to a close and wheat harvest flew by a long time ago. Most of harvest Joel was driving truck this year. The boys still managed to ride along to the grain elevator as many times as they could. They think they are so big when they get to stay up late trucking with dad.

IMG_4429newWhen Joel was driving the combine one evening, we all raced out to the field for a ride. The combine is everyone’s favorite.

Processed with VSCO with s2 presetSquishing my whole crazy family into the combine is my favorite. I can only handle it for so long though because personal space is also my favorite.

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IMG_4447Someone told me this summer that I make farm life look romantic. It almost made me laugh out loud. I’ll let you in on a little secret. I love farm life and so much of it is completely wonderful. Maybe even romantic at times. I know I’ve got it good. Really good. I mean, look at those adorable farm boys out with their daddy! But the truth is, there are days when I am so envious of non-farm families. I start comparing and it doesn’t take long for envy to creep in. I see predictable schedules, holiday weekends, normal dinner times and lives that don’t depend on the weather and my heart races to a discontent state with the life the Lord has lovingly planned for me and my family. I used to think I had the right to whine because, sheesh, those things can be hard on a mama with little kids. But the Lord has been working on my heart and showing me what I so often forget.

I few months ago I read this:

“Envy is forgetful. In concentrating on what we don’t have that we think we should have, we fail to keep in mind the huge catalog of blessings that are ours simply because God has chosen to place his bountiful love on us. This forgetfulness causes us to do more comparing and complaining than praising and resting.” (Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies)

I forget. I forget all that I have in Christ. I forget the gospel and God’s extravagant love. I forget that I am daily living in His riches of grace. I forget His promises that I can stand firm on. I forget that He faithfully meets my every need. I forget and I forget so often.

So my new motto has been: less comparing and complaining, more praising and resting. And before you think I’ve got it all figured out for even one minute, I don’t. I fail over and over because I forget over and over. Just ask my husband how my attitude was the other night. Yikes. It is hard work to get my heart to a place of contentment. But when I allow the Lord to guide me there, the resting and praising bring so much joy.

So, thank you Lord for the gift of farming. Thank you for my precious farm boys. As we close out summer and get ready to enter the fall harvest season, may I do much more praising and much less complaining. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and My Redeemer.

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  • Maria - Farmers feed cities – Thank you! We all envy, though that doesn’t make it right. Love your little boys! Adorable!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Thanks, Maria!

  • Beth Zeller - Through the years I have (and sometimes still do) wasted lots of days lost in envy of a more predictable, controlled way of life. Farming is not an easy way of life. It is so unpredictable in so many ways, especially financially and with trying to schedule your time and days. And it is frustrating to have so little control over so much of it! However, I too, am thankful to be married to a farmer. The flexibility of our life has given me the gift of time spent with my grandchildren. I am so thankful for that blessing. Farming is not what my husband does for a living. It is who he is. Thank you, God, for giving me a farmer to love!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    I love how you said that, Beth! I’ve wasted so much time lost in envy too. But if I stop comparing and take the time to look at what God has given me, there are so many gifts. So many gifts. Thankful for my farmer too!

    • Jess - I love how you said that, Beth! I’ve wasted so much time lost in envy too. But if I stop comparing and take the time to look at what God has given me, there are so many gifts. So many gifts. Thankful for my farmer too!ReplyCancel

  • Michelle - I doubt there are many people who, given a choice, wouldn’t wish for something different. But I know this City Girl is so grateful to the farmers who feed my family. And I look at your farm boys growing up in such a loving family and am grateful for the wonderful example of parenting you provide me xxReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Thanks, Michelle! Looking forward to meeting you SOON!

  • Meggie - Thanks for sharing your heart. Glad I’m not the only one who gets caught up in discontentment! By the way… We appreciate farmers and their families so much!!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Nope, I am right there with you! Praying that God would continue to do a work in my heart that so often becomes discontent in so many ways. Thank for your sweet words, Meggie!

    • Jess - Nope, I am right there with you! Praying that God would continue to do a work in my heart that so often becomes discontent in so many ways. Thank for your sweet words, Meggie!ReplyCancel

  • Toni :0) - Thankful for farmers every day. It’s a hard life but I’m grateful for those that choose to do it. God bless them and their families.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Thanks for your encouragement, Toni!

  • Ali - Oh, thank you for this. I have read your blog for several years but never commented. We are dairy farmers, have two young kids (5 and 2), and a third coming in a few short months. This has been a challenging year in the way that agriculture lends itself to being–financial stresses, employee turnover, battling mother nature, etc. It becomes exhausting in so many ways. The exhaustion turns to envy, and sometimes envy to resentment. I so appreciate you sharing these words today as they’re such an encouragement to looking at my own heart and reevaluating my perspective. Prayers for a smooth and bountiful harvest season.ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Yes! I can so relate to this, Ali. It is a hard season in so many ways. Praying that we would both do less complaining and comparing and more praising and resting…that God would move both of our hearts more and more to a place of contentment in where He has us. Thanks for sharing your heart! It is always encouraging to talk to a fellow farm wife!

    • Jess - Yes! I can so relate to this, Ali. It is a hard season in so many ways. Praying that we would both do less complaining and comparing and more praising and resting…that God would move both of our hearts more and more to a place of contentment in where He has us. Thanks for sharing your heart! It is always encouraging to talk to a fellow farm wife!ReplyCancel

  • Kimberly Oyler - the first time i read your blog i thought, “hey! this looks so fun. i want to be a farm wife!” you do make it look so romantic and fun! miss you friend, hope you’re doing well!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Well, farm life is fun…buuuut I don’t know if it could ever compare to Hawaii life. Ha! Can’t wait to hear more about your adventures. Miss you too!

    Jess Reply:

    Not that I’m comparing… 😉

    • Jess - Well, farm life is fun…buuuut I don’t know if it could ever compare to Hawaii life. Ha! Can’t wait to hear more about your adventures. Miss you too!ReplyCancel

  • Summer - The wheat looks beautiful ♥ Nice photos too ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.comReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Thank you, Summer!

  • Caitlin Allison - Love this. I don’t live on a farm, but I struggle with this DAILY. I think Satan likes us to be anything but grateful. The hardest for me is on social media…if there is ugliness in my heart, it doesn’t take much to convince me that everyone else on IG has a better life than me! I’m super glad God is faithful to complete the work He started in me…because there is a lot of work 🙂ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    YES! Social media is so great but it can be one of my biggest pitfalls too. It is so easy to compare. There is a lot of work to be done in me as well. So thankful for our faithful God!

    • Jess - YES! Social media is so great but it can be one of my biggest pitfalls too. It is so easy to compare. There is a lot of work to be done in me as well. So thankful for our faithful God!ReplyCancel

  • Today | Small Town Nebraska - […] a here is a good read for all farm moms and wives as harvest is […]ReplyCancel

  • Allison Pernecky - This post has rung true to what I’ve been going through lately as well. My husband could attest the same to my horrid attitude he had to put up with the other night! I was saying that I think it must be a lot harder to raise a young family at our age vs. our parent’s age (specifically our mom’s). There is so much to compare ourselves to with the various routes of social media we deal with that sometimes, when we’re having a rough day especially, it’s hard not to think that other people are more successful, happy, better moms, etc. My husband travels a lot for work, so I’m holding down much of the fort myself, so I often times feel envy for my friends who seem to have so much more family time than myself. But, like you said, we just have to try to stop the comparison (SO much easier said than done) & focus on the many, many blessings that we do have. Thank you for sharing!ReplyCancel

    Jess Reply:

    Allison-It is so hard, right? I am sure it is tough to have your husband away so often. Keep clinging to Him! When I finally stop comparing it helps me so much to remember that this (my life) is his perfect, loving plan for me and my family. THIS is it! And I am so thankful that we are not alone in this as He gives us the strength to accomplish whatever it is He is asking us to do. Hang in there, mama!

    • Jess - Allison-It is so hard, right? I am sure it is tough to have your husband away so often. Keep clinging to Him! When I finally stop comparing it helps me so much to remember that this (my life) is his perfect, loving plan for me and my family. THIS is it! And I am so thankful that we are not alone in this as He gives us the strength to accomplish whatever it is He is asking us to do. Hang in there, mama!ReplyCancel