The early March air still has a bit of a chill here at Faithful Flock Farm, but we can feel the seasons shifting. It is a time of year when the ground is waking up, even if it does not look like much is happening on the surface. We spend a lot of our days checking on the soil and watching the trees for the very first signs of buds.
In the middle of all the chores and the planning for the coming months, we had a quiet moment that stopped us in our tracks. It was a simple scene involving two of our favorite companions, but it carried a lesson that we have been carrying in our hearts all week.
A Quiet Morning on the Farm
We often talk about the hustle and bustle of farm life. Between tending to the animals and keeping up with the farm updates, there is usually something moving or making noise. However, the house felt a little different recently.
Aunt Jean had to be away for a short trip, leaving a small void in the daily rhythm of the home. Animals are incredibly sensitive to these changes. They know when someone is missing from their usual chair or when the kitchen feels a bit too still during breakfast time.
Milo, our sweet white Maltese, and Panda Bear, our black-and-white Shih Tzu, are usually the first ones to greet us with excitement. But this week, they had a different mission. They were not interested in chasing shadows or begging for extra treats.
Keeping the Place Safe
We walked down the hallway and peered into the guest room, and there they were. "The house felt a little quieter one morning… Milo was curled up right in the middle of Aunt Jean’s bed… Keeping Aunt Jean’s place safe until she returned. Sometimes love shows itself in the quietest ways."
Panda Bear was right there beside him, his black-and-white fur tucked against the quilt. They were not upset, and they were not pacing the floor in distress. They were simply waiting. They had a calm, quiet confidence that Aunt Jean would return, and until then, they were content to stay close to where she belonged.
Seeing them like that made us realize how often we struggle with the concept of waiting. As humans, we tend to get restless when things do not happen on our schedule. We want answers immediately, and we want the next season of life to arrive before the current one is even finished.
The Art of Patient Trust
There is a beautiful parallel between the way Milo and Panda Bear waited and our own walk of faith. They did not need a written itinerary of when Aunt Jean would be back. They did not need to see her car in the driveway to believe she was still part of their lives.
Their trust was rooted in the relationship they already had with her. They knew her character, and they knew her love. Because of that, the waiting was not a burden. It was an act of devotion.
In our own lives, waiting on the Lord often feels like a difficult chore. We tend to view waiting as lost time or as a sign that nothing is happening. We might feel like we are stuck in a waiting room, staring at the clock and wondering why our prayers have not been answered yet.
But what if we looked at waiting the way these two little dogs did? What if we saw it as a way to keep His place safe in our hearts?
Why Waiting Matters
Through our research and our own experiences on the farm, we have learned that waiting is actually a very active process. It is not just sitting around doing nothing. It is a time when God does some of His best work in us.
Waiting reveals what we truly value. When we are willing to wait for something, it shows that we treasure it. If we are unwilling to wait, it might mean we are more interested in the gift than the Giver.
It also helps to smooth off our rough edges. Just like the winter frost works on the soil to make it ready for spring planting, the "winter" seasons of our lives prepare our hearts for what is coming next. It builds a sense of deferred gratification, teaching us that the best things are often worth the delay.
Lessons from the Soil
On the farm, we are constantly reminded of God's timing. You cannot rush a seed. You can give it the best soil, the right amount of water, and plenty of sunlight, but you cannot force it to sprout before it is ready.
If we tried to dig up the seeds every day to see if they were growing, we would end up destroying the very thing we are trying to raise. We have to trust the process. We have to trust that while the seed is hidden in the dark, it is actually transforming.
This is exactly how it works in our spiritual lives. When we are waiting on the Lord, He is working behind the scenes. He is aligning circumstances, changing our hearts, and preparing us for the responsibilities that come with the harvest.
If you are interested in more stories about our daily life and the lessons we learn, you can always visit our tales of Faithful Flock Farm section.
Finding Peace in the Pause
One of the hardest parts of waiting is the feeling of being out of control. Milo and Panda Bear had no power to make Aunt Jean come home any faster. They had to surrender to the timing of someone else.
In our culture, we are taught to take charge and make things happen. We are told that if we want something, we should go out and grab it. But faith often calls us to do the opposite. It calls us to be still.
When we release control, we actually find a deep sense of peace. We stop worrying about the "when" and the "how," and we start focusing on the "Who." We realize that the One who holds our future is far more capable than we are.
Waiting with Joy
There is a difference between waiting with a grumble and waiting with joy. We noticed that Milo and Panda Bear were not moping. They were peaceful. They were resting.
We can choose to wait expectantly. This means we are looking forward to what God is going to do, even if we cannot see it yet. It turns a period of waiting into a period of preparation.
While we wait, we can focus on the things we can do. We can love our neighbors, tend to our families, and take care of the "flock" God has given us. On the farm, even when we are waiting for the harvest, there are still stalls to clean and fences to mend.
If you are looking for ways to stay busy and enjoy the fruits of our labor while you wait for your own seasons to change, feel free to browse our products. We love sharing what we have grown with our community.
A Community of Faith
We are so grateful to have you as part of our journey here at Faithful Flock Farm. We know that many of you are in your own seasons of waiting. Maybe you are waiting for a health report, a relationship to mend, or a new door to open in your career.
Please know that you are not alone in the quiet. Just like Milo and Panda Bear on the bed, you can find rest in the presence of the One who loves you. He has not forgotten you, and His timing is always perfect.
We would love to hear from you if you have a story of how waiting has grown your faith. You can always contact us or join us at one of our upcoming events. We find so much encouragement in hearing how God is working in your lives too.
Looking Forward
As the days get longer and the sun stays up just a little bit more each evening, we are reminded that no winter lasts forever. The waiting always comes to an end, and the reunion is always sweeter because of the time spent apart.
When Aunt Jean finally walked back through the front door, the joy in the house was overwhelming. Milo and Panda Bear’s patience was rewarded with wagging tails and plenty of snuggles. Their trust was justified.
Let’s hold onto that same hope today. Whatever you are waiting for, trust that the Lord is good and that He is working all things together for your growth and His glory.
Thank you for being part of our farm family. We are so glad to share these quiet, wholesome moments with you.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ( Isaiah 40:31 🤍)
Leave a Reply