"Life, not death, has the last word."

A new calf and a little girl ready to experience her first day of spring!  Winter holds on and we feel that death will never lose its' grasp on the world, and allow LIFE to slowly fill the world with color and warmth.  It is the first day of spring on the calendar, so we hold onto HOPE for that to come according to the grand plan of mother nature for 2013.  I have my Easter tree here in the house - already putting out the bursting buds after being in the warmth just 4 days, so we know that once the cold loosens its' grip on the world - the grass and leaves spring forth and fill us with the JOY of new LIFE - Easter JOY!  I have been so grateful for the season of Lent in our amazing Church, and how it allows us to slow down, and give up, and reach out to those in need around us.  How glorious is the LIGHT of Easter after the 40 days of Lent and Holy week leading up to the resurrection of Eternal LIFE after the agony of death!  So powerful to see that LIFE, not death, has the last Word! 

In this cold weather - we open the warming box to find a sweet surprise - a new little calf that was born out on the dirt.  Gus looks very unsure of himself.  Nancy coming more often to the farm now with her husband's new traveling job... Gus will become more comfortable with the animals, and more interested - not scared.  Life is all around us at this time of year on the farm.  Although the world remains frozen and dead - we have LIFE coming out of our ears here.  It truly is the first day of spring weeks ago with our first calf on the ground and now 60 more to join it!  That going on around us - reminds us that LIFE is winning no matter what the weather does.  It is actually a good thing for the calves in that no disease "bugs" can survive and spread in this cold environment.  They are healthy once they get warm and have momma's milk in their stomach.  It is a sweet sight to see a cow snuggled around her little one to protect and comfort in the cold.  Together they find the warmth of LOVE and LIFE!  Today Christ reminds us that the Truth will set us free.  John 8

 

 Lord, we are reminded of your LOVE for us and the promise of LIFE everlasting even in the midst of the cold and dark world around us.  The Church shows us that we live in the world but we are not of the world.  Although life cannot begin until the warmth of the sun melts the ice and snow that covers the earth, and we are so ready for that to happen.  Yet we see with eyes of Faith that LIFE continues and has the last word!  We know the Truth of LIFE, LOVE and LIGHT lies in our embracing our Most Cherished Cross and following after YOU!  May we not dwell on the parts of LIFE that we cannot control and protect all LIFE at all costs.  Taking courage as we watch how a mother cow protects her little calf and feeds it with the warm milk and curls around it to keep it warm and loved.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
― St. Francis of Assisi, The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
― St. Francis of Assisi