A reminder of what really matters...

What’s the greatest gift you’ve ever received? If you’re like me, you enjoy finding and giving gifts – especially if it’s something special for the recipient. My husband thinks I’m a bit overboard with shopping and making gifts, especially for our little darling, but I find the resulting glee to be incredibly satisfying. Contrast that with hubby’s typical response of “Thanks, this is nice.” said in a perfect monotone with the all the excitement of a stone – no matter if it’s a requested tool or a pack of gum. Who knows, that might change this Christmas (or he’ll at least fake it since I’ve publicly thrown him under the bus)? More on that later.

This time of year, it’s easy to think about all of the presents under the tree. However, our greatest gifts are often overlooked. These are a few of my favorites.

• Health: If you have it, you likely don’t think about it. A few scares this year taught me that’s a mistake. Don’t take your health for granted. Just ask Leontien.
• People to thank:  Those who provide friendship, comfort you, support you professionally, work with you, challenge you and  inspire you deserve gratitude. And don’t wait to utter words of thanks and respect; I learned that the hard way this past week with the sudden death of Chris Raines.
• A driving passion: Mine is obviously building connections between those who grow, make and consume food. I consider a blessing to have a life’s passion that drives my work, though it’s also a challenge to keep that balanced with my personal passions invested in our little family.
• Enough food: We grossly overeat around the holidays – I started today with sugar cookies for breakfast. It’s easy to forget the one in five that are hungry in this country while we’re shoving food in our mouths.  May I suggest you make it part of your 2012 to not forget those without?
• Grounding: The arrival of  Paynacres Perfect Peppermint this morning (our first heifer in nearly two years) reminded my of the importance of staying grounded in my roots  – as you can tell from her name. The prefix is the only thing I have left from my parents herd and Perfect is the matriarch of the family that I paid $7000 for when I was 12 years old and she was a six month-old heifer.  I’m sure Peppermint will provide reminders of husbandry, perseverance and patience while she’s in our barn. Even more importantly, she’ll be a part of inspiring the next generation’s love of agriculture – apparent in full force as mom and daughter were jumping up and down in in excitement together this morning.
• Friendship: I am blessed with a vast and varied circle of friends, near and far. Those I hold closest seem to get the remnants of me, which I hope to change in2012. Sometimes a cup of coffee with a girlfriend is the greatest gift. Other times, it’s the inspiration from seeing what friends across agriculture are doing, yet I probably don’t do enough to express that to people. Do you? If you’re fortunate enough to have people who make a difference in your life, let them know!
• Technology: Think this about how Apples are the greatest devices? Nope, though I could make a case for that. Consider where our world would be without technology. It can drive us nutso, leave us frenzied and put our thumbs in casts. Yet technology can also save a sweet baby’s life (as I’ve watched it do for more than one friend), help us survive natural disasters and yes, provide more people with nutrients to survive.
• Faith: I’m a Christian; I believe in that baby born in a manger so long ago was the ultimate gift. But I also believe my friends in Egypt should celebrate their faith without our judgement, just as I believe Jewish friends deserve to hear Happy Hanukkah. And if I know you’re of a different faith, I’ll make a point of greeting you accordingly. However, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Merry Christmas meant with all the spirit of the season. And that’s all I’m going to say about that before we get into a religious debate.

Merry Christmas. Thanks for sharing the journey.  May you find time to reflect on the greatest gifts in your life as you look under your tree.