God Made A Farmer

One November day God made a farmer.

He grew up corn and tobacco and four strong children.

He loved the land and his beautiful bride.

He took care of the cattle and the cooking and the grandchildren.

He did the hard things and did them well. 

All his 85 years.

Then one February day God took the farmer Home.

And the corn and children and the land and the bride and the cattle and the family all died a small death.

But somehow we kept growing. Slow and painful at times.  But still growing.

Today, we remember our farmer.  Gone from us for two years now.

We remember him in the stories we tell and retell about him.  We remember him when we see a school bus or the color John Deere green.  We remember him when we see other men of courage living their lives of integrity and true grit.

We keep remembering.  And up from the comfort of those memories springs a hope of better days.  More beautiful things that lie ahead.  More stories to be told and more men of courage living out their lives.