This weekend we had some young men come and spend the night at our place. These two men were two of the boys (they were boys at the time!) who helped us build our house a few years ago. They lived with us for 6 months and one of them even stayed on for another 2 months after that. Now they are all grown up. One is married. One is in engineering at a university around here and the youngest builds timber frame homes. They came by because they were selling the garlic and other things they had grown on their farm at a local farmer's market/festival. We asked them how much they made at this sideline venture and you wouldn't believe the number if I told you - it was thousands of dollars - from just 2 acres of garden. We started asking a lot of questions.
We wanted to know how they did all this while doing full-time work and school. It was obvious to them - every minute counted in their day. My husband was most curious about the engineering student's marks - how did he keep us his marks while doing this on the weekends? His answer was inspiring - "I know how to work." His average last year was 92%! He has found engineering not as hard as he thought!? Who says stuff like that?????? He described the stats of how many dropped out from first year to second year and how a whole other group dropped off going into third year.
I think the reason I share this goes back to being an ant. These boys are ants. They have no overseer yet they know how to work. I bet, though, that anyone else hearing all that these boys accomplish would question them and suggest that they are workaholics. There is no way. I think the people who would say that are funaholics. That same group who might challenge how these boys live their lives might say they don't have enough rest or vacation in their lives. Again, no. These boys are successful and are packing away money to be able to buy a home debt-free one day. They are not wasting their lives. They are being good stewards of the very resources and talents that God has given them.
My whole family sat around and talked with these inspiring young men late into the night. We all wanted to grasp what they were doing and take the land that we have and use it in a similar way. Everyone listened intently. It was so good for them to see a model of young men working hard.
I plan on giving a seminar in the next month on the Maxwell series of books that teach on chores and scheduling school hours. Re-reading their books has reminded me how teaching our kids to work is so critical, from a young age. My rascally 4 year old is learning how to work and does not like it. I keep telling him, "If you learn how to do your chores now without fussing at me, then you will be a good Daddy who can take good care of his family." He doesn't buy it. But I press on, constantly training, constantly disciplining for bad attitude, which he seems to have no end of! These boys were that dose of inspiration we needed again to stay on track. Sometimes it is hard to keep at it when you don't see any light at the end of the tunnel!
I think the Lord sent those boys to us this weekend. They were Scripture come to life - if they had been wearing ant costumes, I wouldn't have even flinched. God knows we need that tangible expression of Himself, of His Word. We were so encouraged. I went to bed dreaming of farming and all that we could accomplish with our land. They were also representatives of the rest of their family who helped in the farming venture. This family also has 8 kids. One girl made all the labels for their garlic-related products. The others helped make the garlic powder, the garlic sauces, the garlic scapes (another garlic product...delicious!). It was really a whole family experience! Even the Dad helps weed the garden and the Mom grows sprouts and things she sells at the markets. They were at a farmer's market every weekend. It was hard work, they admitted it - up very early, setting up at the market, talking all day to customers, back home late.....not your average way to spend a summer weekend. But the way they speak to each other, the way they speak of their siblings and parents, it was clear, the bonds between them all were strong and full of respect. It was amazing to see and hear.
Our window of time with our children is disappearing! They are getting older! They are going to be leaving the nest before we know it! How I pray we'll be able to take advantage of every moment the way this family has and that the Lord will bless the work of our hands.
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