The landscape looks entirely different from a vantage point several thousand feet above.
Last month before the current health crisis went berserk, Papa and I traveled by air from our northeastern home state to the southwest – Arizona to be exact – to visit my sister and brother-in-law who reside there part of the year.
On our return flight home, (click here if you missed that post) we flew through mostly clouds and dreary weather, but as we crossed over the Midwest, there was a break in the clouds and we noticed patterns on the earth below.
We’ve seen this visual before when flying over that part of our country. The view reminds me of a patchwork quilt. Shapes including perfect circles and some squares and rectangles all joined together to make an interesting pattern.
The circular shapes, of course, aren’t a mystery. Instead they are merely created by irrigation systems on farmland. Water sprays in a radius from sprinklers of a sort on pipes. Irrigation helps our farmers grow the crops we all need.
I happen to live in a rural area surrounded by plenty of farmland. We have many farmers in our community and friends who are farmers and today, I am so very thankful for these hard workers who toil the ground and care for animals for our benefit.
“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.” ~ Aldo Leopold
Without them, we wouldn’t have milk to drink, or wheat for bread, or meat, eggs, and fresh vegetables and fruit to eat. Farmers keep our grocery stores stocked with food for us all.
We wouldn’t have cotton for making our clothes and so many other products we use. We depend upon our country’s farmers more than we realize.
We owe so very much to American agriculture workers and I don’t think they are appreciated nearly enough. We just take for granted that they will continue to supply what we need without receiving any thanks from us consumers.
And you know what? They will.
But during this time of self-isolating and considering the benefit for others while we do so, I’m choosing to find reasons to be grateful. So on this Thankful Tuesday, I am most grateful for our farmers who, every day of the year, work for our benefit. And I say thank you.
I hope you take a moment to pause and be thankful as well.
“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man.” ~George Washington
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