It is a beautiful June morning here at Faithful Flock Farm, and the sun is already starting to warm the air. The birds are singing, the hens are busy scratching in the dirt, and we are sitting here with a cold ice water in hand, just taking a moment to breathe. It is one of those mornings where the list of things to do feels like it could stretch all the way to the horizon, past the barn and over the hills.
We were talking recently about all the chores that need to be tackled. There are always eggs to gather, waterers to scrub, fresh bedding to lay down, and fences that seem to need a little extra attention. It can feel like we are constantly running a race where the finish line keeps moving. We realized, in a moment of quiet reflection, that our list of things to do will only truly be completed once our time here on Earth is done. That can sound a bit heavy at first, but there is actually a lot of freedom in that truth.
The Trap of "Get 'er Done"
We often fall into the trap of thinking that peace only comes when the list is finished. We tell ourselves that we will sit down and relax once the barn is perfect, the garden is weeded, and every single egg is washed and cartoned. But on a farm, and really in any life, that day never actually arrives. There is always something else. If we spend our whole lives just working to "get 'er done," we are missing out on the very life that God wants us to experience right now.
God did not put us here on this beautiful Earth just to be chore-doing machines. He created us for relationship, for stewardship, and for joy. When we are so focused on the next task, we lose the ability to stop and smell the roses, or in our case, the sunflowers and daisies that are blooming so brightly right now. We miss the way the light hits the feathers of our Brahma hens, or the funny way Milo and Panda Bear follow us around, hoping for a stray treat or a belly rub.
Even the Creator Rested
It is easy to forget that rest is not a sign of weakness or laziness. It is actually a holy pattern. Even God, the Creator of the entire universe, took a day of rest. He didn't rest because He was tired or because He ran out of things to do. He rested to show us that there is a time to cease from our labor and simply delight in what has been made.
When we refuse to rest, we are essentially saying that the world cannot turn without us. We are acting as if we are the ones holding it all together. Taking a break to enjoy a fruit smoothie or a tall glass of iced tea on the porch is an act of trust. It is a way of saying, "Lord, I trust that You are in control of this farm and my life, even when I am not working."
Carrying On Through the Heartache
This message of being present matters even more when we walk through seasons of loss. We have seen that truth up close in our own family. Life has not been easy, and the weight of grief can make a person want to just keep moving, just keep working, just keep trying to outrun the ache. Mama's story is one example of that kind of strength. She lost her younger brother far too young, and then she lost her grandmother whom she cherished so deeply. Just a very short time later, she had to say goodbye to her mother as well.
When you lose people who helped shape your life, the chores can start to feel both endless and empty. But that grief also reminds us of something important: the to-do list will always be there, but our loved ones might not be. That is why we are learning to hold the work in its proper place. The list matters, but people matter more.
Mama is not the whole message here, but her life is a powerful example. Her strength is a testament that God isn't finished with her yet. There is still beauty ahead for her, and there are still family memories waiting to be made. We believe that is true for all of us who are still here; by God's grace, we still have time to love well, listen closely, and show up for one another.
Loving the Ones Who Are Here
Just because a loved one we cherished is gone, it does not mean we should stop living our own lives. In many ways, valuing the people who are here right now is one of the best ways to honor those we have lost. We don't want to look back years from now and say, "I wish I would have spent more time listening," or "I wish I hadn't been so busy with the chores that I missed the conversation."
Milo and Panda Bear don't care if the to-do list is finished. They just want to sit by our feet while we watch the sunset. Our family needs that same kind of attention. They need us to put down the pen, step away from the barn, and just be.
One practical farm rule we are trying to remember is simple:: the list can always wait unless it is something detrimental to a living creature. If an animal needs water, shade, food, safety, or care, we handle it right away. But if it is a task that can wait until later, we are learning that it is okay to pause. It is okay to stop and smell the roses. The work only truly ends when our time on Earth is done, so we do not want to spend all our days missing the people God has placed right in front of us.
We are learning, little by little, that being fully present is not falling behind. It is part of a faithful life.
"Don't Put Off Tomorrow What Can Be Done Today"
We have all heard the saying, "Don't put off tomorrow what can be done today." There is wisdom in that, especially when it comes to responsibilities that truly need our attention. But we do not believe that saying should rule over every moment, especially not when someone stops by for a visit or calls on the phone.
We do not want to be in such a hurry to "get er done" that we ignore the person right in front of us. Before we rush past a conversation or cut a visit short, it helps to ask two simple questions: Will it be there later? and Will it destroy everything if it doesn't get done right now? A lot of the time, the honest answer is that the task can wait.
People are not promised tomorrow, or even the next ten minutes. Neither are we. That is why we do not want to live with a pile of "I should have" regrets because we chose a chore over a person who needed a few moments of our time. The person is more important than the task.
Sunflowers, Daisies, and Quiet Trust
There is something so steady about the way a sunflower grows. It doesn't rush, and it doesn't worry about the weeds around its feet. It just turns its face toward the sun and grows exactly as it was designed to. The daisies in our fields are the same way, simple, bright, and content to just be where they are planted.
We want our faith to be like that. We want to be known for our quiet trust and our steady care rather than a frantic need to be "busy." If you are feeling overwhelmed by your own list today, we invite you to take a page out of our book. Go find a quiet spot, maybe grab a cold drink, and just look around at what God has created.
The chores will be there tomorrow. The eggs will still need to be gathered, and the waterers will still need to be filled. But the moment you have right now with your family, or the peace you can find in a few minutes of stillness, is a gift that you won't get back.
We would love to hear from you if you are struggling to find that balance between work and rest. We are all in this together, learning how to be good stewards of our time and our hearts. You can always reach us at 513-607-1317 or stop by the farm to see the hens and roosters for yourself. We are located at Faithful Flock Farm, and we would love to share a bit of our quiet life with you.
Let’s try to remember that we are human beings, not human doings. God has a purpose for your rest just as much as He has a purpose for your work.
Stay hopeful, keep looking for the beauty in the small things, and don't forget to take a day of rest every now and then. We are so grateful for this community and for the chance to share this journey with you.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." ( Psalm 46:10)
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