StillWatersIowa: Roots

Have you ever looked back to when you were young and thought about the characteristics your parents had that you now have? Sometimes those characteristics came from traditions and habits we grew up around. Many times our values and view of life came from our fathers and mothers instilling them in us. Those traditions, habits, values, and worldview are our roots.

Both of my parents helped me form my roots but since it's Mothers Day I'll share some of my mom's characteristics. Mom was an example of serving. She taught me to be generous when I give and grateful when I receive. Mom and I both have the Uncle Jake mentality. That's not always a good thing. Being of Dutch heritage and never wanting to waste anything, Uncle Jake would always eat the dropped apples on the ground and save the good apples on the tree for a later day. The moral of this story is you never get finished eating drops because they keep dropping.

I remember my life back then being steady and structured, all pulling together. Can you imagine having three meals a day together with prayer beforehand and scripture and prayer after the meal? Quite often we would also stop for morning and afternoon coffee time.

Those meals were family time together. Sometimes today we run around like a turtle with his head shot off and a vice grip pinched to his tail.

God also provided me with a Christian wife and a wonderful mother to our children. The roots she shares is a great relationship with her children and grandchildren, a generosity to others, and the love of the outdoors. Jan is the only woman in the world that would put up with me as she is unbelievably patient when life gets busy on the farm.She has months supply of every food ingredient known to man and a cupboard full of medicine in case a grandkid gets sick.

Earlier this week Kurtis called so we went to Keith and Dale's places to look at some corn. We dug up some corn roots and found an occasional wireworm had burrowed into a few seeds and killed the plant.

For good results you never want your corn crop to have a bad day. It's kind of like life. You need to start with roots and a good stand. You need to take time to observe it's development and give it attention.

You need to feed it and nurture it.

Once in awhile as in life things need repaired or fixed. You can go on using it for awhile. You can even ignore the wireworms that eat into the heart of the seed. But if you don't take the time to do the right thing, you will soon lose your roots and eventually forget your purpose.

I am thankful God provided me with a mother that helped me with my roots. I'm thankful for my wife that helped establish my children's roots. I'm thankful that my daughter and five daughter-in-laws all love their Lord and either are or will raise their children with strong roots. My goal is to honor God by being grateful for these things. So often these days we hear the comment, "I am on my own." The truth is, "I am not my own but belong in body and soul (and roots) to my faithful Savior and Lord."