Recently we celebrated National Ag Week, and a fellow farmer challenged her Facebook friends to post a daily photo depicting the beauty of farm life. It sounded like something fun to try, so I began thinking about the photos I would post. I had no idea what a blessing it would be to me personally. Farming is a good life, and there is much beauty in it, but it is not without trials and difficulties.
Every farmer goes through days when they just want to throw their hands in the air and walk away from it all. The thing of it is, as I began to post photos of the beauty of farming and really started to think about what it is that makes it beautiful, my focus shifted from the things that are frustrating to the reasons that life on the farm is the best. I began to realize that if we spent more time conscientiously looking for the beauty in things, the negative things might not have so much of a hold on us. It’s become my goal to regularly find an area of life to focus on the beauty.
Up next is the beauty of a large family. Now I don’t have a week to post daily photos, but I still want to share seven things that depict the beauty of a large family. Like farming, having a large family comes with many challenges, and we can stress about the trying times or we can choose to see the blessings. In no particular order, I want to mention some of those blessings.
1. There is beauty in the variety of personalities that make up our large family.
Sure, sometimes those personalities clash a bit, but God knew exactly what He was doing when He put us together. It reminds me somewhat of a busy, brightly colored quilt. At first glance the pattern might not make a lot of sense, but when it all comes together it’s a thing of beauty.
2. There is beauty in our built-in sports teams.
Granted, that also is not without hazard, but it does my heart good to watch my husband and children in whatever games they are playing each day. Trust me, it’s better that I enjoy it from the sidelines!
3. There is beauty in working together.
Recently we’ve been doing a number of projects around the house. It is so precious to watch each child take part, especially as the older ones help the younger ones.
4. There is beauty in the various stages of childhood.
When you have a large family, you have the opportunity to enjoy those various stages with several different personalities. It can be so enjoyable and often entertaining.
5. There is beauty in family Bible time.
Each family member has something unique to add to the conversation, and this often leads to some very rich spiritual discussion. Along those same lines, it is beautiful to see the spiritual growth in each child.
6. There is beauty in watching the older children as they begin to mentor the younger children.
I’ll never forget the day I realized my second daughter could write her name, and I hadn’t taught her to do it; her big sister had. There is a certain amount of healthy pride when they realize they’ve helped a younger sibling succeed at something.
7. There is beauty in special days.
Holidays and birthdays are chaotic fun with a large family. Each of the kids goes out of his or her way to make the days exciting for the others. At times the excitement is almost palpable as they plan and prepare.
Yes, in spite of more finger print smudges on the windows and extra baskets of laundry in the hallway, there is a real beauty in a large family.
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