Caring For Life

What Summer?

by Tim Parkinson

<< previous articles

Did Summer miss England this year? We might have had one or two clear blue sky days, but generally speaking, its been a bit of a grey time for us 'Brits'. And just how much has the weather changed the way we feel every day?

When you wake, open the curtains, look outside to see yet another grey day, is your reaction one of, 'Fantastic, another good day that God has given me to enjoy,' or is it, 'I'm just going to close those curtains, lie down and put a pillow over my head,' imagining it's really just a gloomy dream!

There are many occupations that are effected by the weather, farming is just one of them. A year's crop can be lost so easily over the space of hours sometimes if that rain shower just comes at the wrong time, or the sun just doesn't shine that little bit longer.

This year at Crag House Farm, we have been desperate to find that window of opportunity to gather our hay and straw. Week after week has come and gone, those grey skies just kept coming. Every morning we would pray for those few hours and days to arrive when the agriculture project team could gather in the crop for the winter.

The reality of it is that without us gathering our own, it would cost many hundreds, if not thousands of pounds for us to buy in the needed bedding and food for our herds of cattle, sheep and our horses through the winter months.

So last weekend, when there was a break in the skies, our agri team were on the case. A very good and supportive farmer has for many years donated some fields of straw to Caring For Life, also saving us many thousands of pound. Tractors towed the necessary equipment about 1 hour's drive away from the farms base, and work began on gathering the straw.

It took the team till 2.30am in the morning to get back with the loads of straw which was nothing compared to the relief of actually harvesting and safely storing the straw for the next year.

The following day, Jonathan, the farm manager, and Chris finished off the collection and transportation of large straw bales.

We are so grateful to our supporter for giving us the straw, and we look forward to the winter months when those in our care will be able to use this donation to care for the animals in our new stock barn.

It's times like harvest when those we care for on our agriculture project, really do in a very clear and special way feel needed and part of a team. Helping bring in those extra bales, at the last hour, when the weather is looming and when others have gone home. Although hard work, it really does help instill that sense of need and belonging when doing something very special.

God has given us the seasons for a reason. God knows what He is doing, and we must always trust that He will provide us with all that we need. His plan is perfect, and in instances like this, it's not just the reaping of the straw that we see, it is in the reaping of souls, when we are provided with the opportunity and place to share and experience something of God's grace, love and purpose for every one of us.


	What Summer? *by Tim Parkinson* << previous articles Did Summer miss England this year? We might have had one or two clear blue sky days, but generally speaking, its been a bit of a grey time for us 'Brits'. And just how much has the weather changed the way we feel every day? When you wake, open the curtains, look outside to see yet another grey day, is your reaction one of, 'Fantastic, another good day that God has given me to enjoy,' or is it, 'I'm just going to close those curtains, lie down and put a pillow over my head,' imagining it's really just a gloomy dream! There are many occupations that are effected by the weather, farming is just one of them. A year's crop can be lost so easily over the space of hours sometimes if that rain shower just comes at the wrong time, or the sun just doesn't shine that little bit longer. This year at Crag House Farm, we have been desperate to find that window of opportunity to gather our hay and straw. Week after week has come and gone, those grey skies just kept coming. Every morning we would pray for those few hours and days to arrive when the agriculture project team could gather in the crop for the winter. The reality of it is that without us gathering our own, it would cost many hundreds, if not thousands of pounds for us to buy in the needed bedding and food for our herds of cattle, sheep and our horses through the winter months. So last weekend, when there was a break in the skies, our agri team were on the case. A very good and supportive farmer has for many years donated some fields of straw to Caring For Life, also saving us many thousands of pound. Tractors towed the necessary equipment about 1 hour's drive away from the farms base, and work began on gathering the straw. It took the team till 2.30am in the morning to get back with the loads of straw which was nothing compared to the relief of actually harvesting and safely storing the straw for the next year. The following day, Jonathan, the farm manager, and Chris finished off the collection and transportation of large straw bales. We are so grateful to our supporter for giving us the straw, and we look forward to the winter months when those in our care will be able to use this donation to care for the animals in our new stock barn. It's times like harvest when those we care for on our agriculture project, really do in a very clear and special way feel needed and part of a team. Helping bring in those extra bales, at the last hour, when the weather is looming and when others have gone home. Although hard work, it really does help instill that sense of need and belonging when doing something very special. God has given us the seasons for a reason. God knows what He is doing, and we must always trust that He will provide us with all that we need. His plan is perfect, and in instances like this, it's not just the reaping of the straw that we see, it is in the reaping of souls, when we are provided with the opportunity and place to share and experience something of God's grace, love and purpose for every one of us.