Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it doesn’t.

Photos by Dunlap Photography

Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the snows come too hard, or not at all.
 
I’ve lived in agriculture my whole life. Born to a rancher and later married to cowboy, I have watched the seasons rock our world. So much in this lifestyle is unpredictable and uncontrollable. Prayer and faith become essential to retaining peace.
 
Those who live in agriculture have a special opportunity to witness God’s awesome power in nature and come to trust in His plans and care.
 
It is so amazing watching these people, farmers and ranchers, live through the rough times and celebrate the bountiful seasons. I’ve watched families have to sell off all their cattle, get jobs in town, and still rejoice in God’s provision. I’ve watched those same families re-stock, plow up their fields, and praise God when their crops come in.
 
For a lifestyle that requires such intense labor, it is precious to notice how most still believe that they cannot do any of it without their Heavenly Father.
 
Brandings for me have come to be a celebration of God’s care. As each calf is counted, vaccinated, and marked, ranchers celebrate the new generation of livestock. It is such a thankful time, shared with neighbors and families. It also brings hope. Hope that the fall harvest and shipping will come and another year will end well.
 
I will be honest, sometimes I wish I came from a family where life and income felt more secure, a life where seasons did not change the number of hours my husband had to be out plowing, calving, lambing, or harvesting. Sometimes I wish we had a life where the number of rains would not determine how much we made for the year or a life where a bad snow did not put our animals in danger. But, I also think of all the hours I’ve spent with my Heavenly Father because I needed my fears soothed, my worries put at ease.
 
I will take the connection over the perceived insecurity.

After all, my hope is in Him alone. 
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      the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Psalm 147:11, NIV

My dad, husband, and daughter, Adela by Dunlap Photography

​Are there aspects of your own life that bring you closer to God?