By Pastor Mark Woodward
Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston
(and Lenora)
When I was growing up, I loved visiting the family farm in the small Iowa village of Ticonic located about 35 miles from Sioux City. On this farm lived my two favorite uncles who were indeed “characters” in their own way. Their house and the neighboring house of my aunt were filled with happy moments and much laughter. It was here that I came to appreciate rural, small town life. As a transplanted city kid, I came to really enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
My uncles had a tractor much like the one pictured here. It was the first tractor I ever drove. It was a lot of fun to hear the engine purr and drive it around the farm yard. Today, I have one just like it. I drive it around our land, pull logs with it and take grandchildren for rides on it. These are blessed moments.
I want us to think about those cherished moments in our lives and take time to appreciate them and to focus on those simple, beautiful blessings we share with family and friends.
It is with much gratitude that I reflect on those beautiful days on the farm in Iowa. I am thankful for friends, family and beautiful people who instilled in me a love for simple things and gave me a moral compass for Christian living. I still think about going to church on Sunday mornings with my family and spending time in worship and thanksgiving. Those were holy moments.
My old Ford tractor serves as a reminder to cherish the simple things in life and to be thankful for all of the blessings of life. My uncles have gone to heaven now, but the memories and happy moments remain. I would encourage all of us to take some time today to focus on those blessed moments in our lives and give thanks and praise to God.
I hope you will have a blessed day today… maybe you’ll see me driving around on my old Ford tractor… take time to enjoy the simple joys of life and in all things give thanks and praise to God!
