Rolling With The Tide

by Michele Boy | January 5, 2023

Welcome to 2023: A brand new year. 
Every year I take a moment to contemplate and reflect about the year ahead. Usually a word comes to mind. Achievement, peace, grace. This year the word that struck me was emotional. But, it wasn’t terrifying. It was more like the ocean’s waves. The tide rolls in and out to a rhythm.  It felt right. 
On January 1st our year began helping out some friends who were out of town. We were just supposed to check on one pregnant goat but not a big deal because they would be home soon. 
Right at the moment we stopped by to check, a mama goat decided to kid.  Then she had another. And another. Triplets! Another mama decided the time was right for her too.  In less than an hour we had six on our hands.  My husband has experience with cattle but not goats. It was awesome.
Life in our hands as we dried them off with towels. Our clothes were wet and stained with blood and as I lay on the floor of the pen, I was beaming! 
Later it was time to take our sheep to their homes to be bred, and my daughter cried her eyes out saying goodbye to them.
That’s life right? Life and death. In the past few weeks we have had a multitude of highs and lows in the livestock show ring and with family and friends. 
I guess if I keep the vision of the ocean tide rolling in and rolling out then I keep centered. 
I have no idea what the year holds. It’s one day at a time.  What if we lived that way? Hard to do when there are lists upon lists of things that need done and when you have a small break it’s because you probably forgot something. But, what if in all that we found space?
I once listened to someone describe the Bible verse “The word is a lamp unto my feet” as staying in God’s grace. When you go too far out, when you get farther than the lamp’s light, you are too far. 
A girl went missing last week. Thankfully she was found. But the whole day I made my daughter stay by my side. I made her hold the shopping cart with me when we went for groceries that day. Maybe that is how God feels. Stay close to me so you don’t get too far away. I need to see you. I need you to see me. 
 On Tuesday, since my daughter was home from school she asked me to play a game with her. Instead of rushing out the door to work, I said yes. I stopped and played a game. 
Our lives are crazy sometimes going in twelve directions but stopping to enjoy those moments mean the world. 
I think the hardest part is saying no to things that keep me from that. 
  Yes, I have plans and goals and dreams. It seems my calendar is filled faster than I can write it down. 
 A short break from the sheep barn while we start basketball season. Squeeze in 4-H meetings, fundraisers, work, farm, family. 
What does your 2023 look like? 
  The thing is there are no crystal balls and I am glad I don’t know the future. 
There are things in my life I never want to live through again but they made me stronger. 
Remembering that I am being led and that God has a plan offers me comfort. 
So, here’s to 2023. May we roll with the tide a little easier, hug our loved ones a little more, and ask God to watch over us.