Titus 2 Men And Women

Some Things I've Learned
by Cathy DeHass

(Cathy DeHass is one of the sweetest women I have ever met with a strength in the Lord that is a testimony of God's enablement through the "all things" of life. If you have not read her testimony I encourage you to do so and receive a wonderful blessing. This article is a wonderful word picture for I Corinthians 10:31, " Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.") - Sharon

SOME THINGS I'VE LEARNED...

If you have read my testimony you know that I grew up on a farm in Northwest Ohio. Though I have been away from farm life for over twenty years, I still remember and use many of the things I learned during those years.

We had several varieties of animals on our farm. There were milk cows, hogs, sheep, a pony, a horse, cats, and a dog. I learned that animals needed to be fed and cared for no matter what was going on in my life. It did not matter if I was sad, grumpy, sick, or discouraged the animals still had to be fed and cared for. It could have been raining, snowing, bitter cold, or very hot, but the animals still had to be fed and cared for.

You may ask, "How did you learn anything from that?" Well, I learned to be faithful at daily tasks like Bible reading, prayer and church attendance. It does not matter how I feel. Whether I am sad, grumpy, sick, or discouraged, I still read my Bible, pray, and go to church. (Obviously if I am extremely ill I stay home, but that has only happened about five or six times in over 20 years.) I learned that I needed to take care of my family no matter what. It does not matter what the weather is like or how I feel. I need to meet my family's needs daily. I need to prepare meals, wash dishes, clean or straighten up the house, pack lunches, etc. no matter what is going on in my life.

Another thing I learned from those farm animals was that it did not matter that I had just fed and cared for them that morning; I still had to feed and care for them that evening too. And you know what? I had to feed and care for them the next day, the day after that, the next day, the next and the next! The job was never done until the animals left the farm.

The same is true with my Bible reading, prayer time, and church attendance. The task will not be finished until I leave this earthly body. Meeting the needs of my family will not end until they leave my home.

One more thing I noticed about those farm animals. Did you know that not one of them came up to me and said, "Cathy, I sure am thankful that you feed and care for me everyday"? That did not happen even one time during all the years I lived on the farm. But do you know something? I still fed and cared for them. I did not expect any thanks from them. It was my job to meet their needs.

We should not expect thanks from our family either. It is our job to meet their needs. If they happen to show their appreciation (and we should teach our children to be thankful) then "Praise God!" But if we never receive the first "Thank you", we still need to do our job. Not only are we to do our job, but we also must do it to the best of our ability and with a Godly attitude.

I am so thankful that God allowed me to be a farm girl! I learned so many things to help me throughout my life, and I continue to use what I have learned every day.

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