Dear Dad,
I have only ever seen
you cry a couple times in my life. One time was when a newborn calf was born,
but later died in your arms, and the other was at our dispersal sale four years
ago when you told everyone just how much each individual cow had impacted your
life.
I have only ever seen
you cry those two times, but I have also seen your heart cry. I have watched you push yourself so hard for
the soul purpose of providing for this family. I have noticed the lack of joy
in your step in between chores. I feel guilty for not being there; for not
helping you.
As I sit in this dreary
college classroom, doodling only heaven knows what, with a pencil that
continues to keep breaking, I can only wish to be home on the family farm.
Times are tough, but I believe that together, we are tougher.
Looking back, I
remember when all of us kids still lived at home and the farm was a huge family
affair. Some do not fully understand the amount of effort required to operate a
dairy farm. I wish you got the credit you deserve, Dad.
Our farm is not
perfect. The parlor needs scrubbed, the free-stalls need fixed, and who knows
what’s wrong with the tractor this time, however, even through the
imperfections, my family farm has established deep rooted morals, and
principles that will live with me forever. You may look at my farm and not find
anything of value, but I find beauty in everything that it holds.
Thank you, Dad, for
putting all of your heart and soul into the farm. You have set one of the
biggest examples of what it means to fight for what you believe in and to never
give up. I know you are tired; exhausted actually, but know that I appreciate
you more than you will ever know.
Love, Hannah
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with
God all things are possible.”
-Matthew
19:26
