A Hill Of Beans

As harvest wraps up here in southern Iowa most all of our crops are under roof. This picture of over two million bushels of soybeans piled outside was taken at a grain elevator in North Dakota. With the rain patterns shifting farther north the northern part of the midwest has been able to grow more soybeans than their storage can handle. This "hill of beans" would be worth over thirty million dollars.

I have heard folks say, "What I do doesn't amount to a hill of beans." Although I have heard that "amount to a hill of beans" since I was a kid I have no idea why we use that comment to describe something of little value.

Most folks are not distinguished by great accomplishments. Rather they are measured by all the small things they do on a continual basis.

Success is not defined by how much a person does. Success is defined by how well and how willing that person takes advantage of the opportunities God has given him.

You don't have to have a microphone in the room to be reminded that people are listening to what you say. Folks want to know what you are thinking.

We are continually being watched by our families, our neighbors, and others what we are doing. Do we walk our talk? Do we promote in a positive light our occupations no matter how big or small our "hill of beans" are?

Little folks listen to what we say and watch what we do just as much as big folks. These boys are sons of Kevin and Jody and came to their grandparents, Wayne and Sue, over the weekend to help finish harvest.

Taking care of and trying to improve what we have been entrusted with is our stewardly obligation if our "hill of beans" financially allows it. Tiling farm ground in Iowa increases production and prevents erosion. 

I am learning over the years not to try and live up to who people think I am or who they want me to be but rather who God has made me.

Being happy and enjoying the surroundings we have been placed in is the definition of contentment. No worries if your "hill of beans" isn't as big as others.

We have been given a purpose. What we do has more value than what we have. We have also been given a promise that our needs will be supplied for that purpose. What is your purpose?