The Gift Of Receiving

As a kid nothing is more anticipated than Christmas and receiving gifts. I'm sure most of you can remember opening a wrapped package.

We know it's important to be grateful. To be generous. To be giving. It's also important to receive. When you receive you allow others the joy of giving. You have the opportunity to give the gift of gratitude. The gift of acknowledgement. The gift of telling someone thank you. I appreciate you. Next years seed is starting to come in.

I'm sure most of you receive compliments from time to time. We often modestly say, "Oh well", or "No big deal", or "God is good" (which He is) or "I am blessed" (which we are). However be sure and receive the compliment and acknowledge the one who said it with a genuine "Thank you" as not to belittle the gift or the one who gave it. Mark has been busy helping others with many projects this winter with his equipment.

This past week's weather has allowed us to be back in the field. However I've been in the office and haven't many pictures this week. Below Pablo is tendering dry fertilizer to Alex who is running the dry spreader.

Warmer temps always make cleaning up the combines an easier job. We started this year with a big air compressor to blow off all the dry dirt and bean dust and corn stalks. Thanks for renting this compressor unit to us Eric.

We are still busy hauling grain every day. The soybeans are currently going to ADM in Des Moines and the corn is filling leftover contracts in Eddyville.

Gideon stopped by after work at Outer Limits the other night to receive his new quilt from Grandma. His quilt he used for his bed spread that Jan had made for him earlier was lost in their house fire in April of 2017. This one is all about planets and galaxies and space.  

Jan's birthday was last Tuesday and she received an Echo. An Echo is a device that you talk to and Alexa responds with your request for either information or songs. Below Gideon and his sisters are getting it set up for Grandma.

Zach was hoping for a rock tumbler and polisher for Christmas. He not only received his wish, Jan found him a geode from a neighbor who used to work at a rock quarry. A geode is a formation of crystals and bright colored minerals formed inside a rock cavity. Jan is an awesome Grandma.

One of the many fun things I was able to do while I was in Africa was to buy jewelry boxes for all my granddaughters from a fellow named Marcus who made them and sold them to me.

Christmas is about traditions. One of Jan's traditions is to buy pajamas for the younger grandkids. Our grandchildren are truly a gift not just to their parents but to Jan and I. We gratefully receive this gift from God not as ours. Not even as their parents. But each one of them as God's. We receive and treasure their time with us and as we have all experienced in the past God determines that time.

One of the important things kids learn during Christmas get-togethers is watching others receive and open their gifts. This is sometimes hard for little people. It's also sometimes hard for big people. We need to truly, sincerely, and genuinely be happy when others receive good things and not just at Christmas.

As we look forward to another year, and as we receive from God and others, lets be just a little more like a child at Christmas.

The light of Christmas is about the gift of giving. It's also about the gift of receiving. Merry Christmas from Jan and I and our family. Thanks for your gift of friendship.