Written by Leah Peterson @ Cooksley’s Clear Creek Farm
There is a verse from the book of Revelations that we cite many times in the spring.
Revelations 21:5 says: Behold! I make all things new. Then he said “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
The seasons of Spring and Easter are wrapped tightly together on the farms and ranches of Nebraska. The anticipation of a new season of life puts a spring in our step and a light in our eyes. The appearance of this life in the animals we raise and the crops we plant is a living reminder of God’s promises to each of us.
2012 was a very difficult year for our family. We endured the loss of a family member who was a leader figure to our entire extended family. The drought began, and we watched our dryland corn and alfalfa burn under the heat and searing summer sun. Our ponds and streams dried up, and our pastures faded to a crispy brown. As we completed our fall harvest and cattle work, we waited for winter, the moisture to return, and our burdens to cease.
While the drought has not eased, the winter moisture has replenished enough that little peeks of green are beginning to appear. The soft lowing of the cows and their newborns is enough to place joy in our hearts as we begin this new season, and remember how faithful God is in His promise to once again make things new for us.
The challenges of being a livestock producer are never far from our minds. Even tonight, we are experiencing January-like temperatures under a full moon, and as I look outside, I think of the many ranchers who will shrug into their winter gear to greet this night and assist with bringing many a new life into the world. They’re doing their part to ensure that life is protected from the elements. Not all of them will survive; sometimes the conditions are too much even with our help. But, we celebrate our successes and learn from our failures, and remember that tomorrow will be fresh, with no mistakes in it. As we approach Easter, and the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, I will again be reminded of God’s promise to make things new, be it a new season on the prairies of Nebraska, or a new life in Christ.
Happy Easter.