Learning to Lean In

Nothing makes me happier than watching our son, Everett, proudly complete his favorite farm job: opening the gate!

As we approach, he begins to smile and stand a little taller.  He walks up to the gate confident that he has what it takes.  He gets his little hands just right and then leans into it.  The real beauty of the moment lies in the fact that opening the gate is everyone else’s least favorite job, but to a little guy on a mission, the gate is the next great thing to be conquered.

I love his happy attitude toward this mundane, behind-the-scenes task.

I think that’s what working on the farm is all about.  It’s finding inspiration and satisfaction in the little every day jobs that care for God’s beautiful creation. It’s exercising our skills so we become better stewards of our land and animals. It’s recognizing obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow.  We lean into our work because we believe in what we do. 

I’m so thankful for moments like these. My memories of a little boy happily doing a big job will always encourage me. I pray that someday, when Everett finds opening the gate just as boring as the rest of us, he’ll find new challenges to inspire him.  I pray his determination grows with him and he never forgets that life is a lot more fun when we are leaning into it.