How to Find Gratitude When You Never Get a Break
There is this notion that the first years of marriage should be something along the lines of blissful. There should be fun date nights, endless amounts of time in the bedroom, and just an ease about it. Looking back it should have been that way. But reality on The Ranch seems to cloud all of those things.
Looking back, after six short years of marriage, it has felt like my husband and I had endured more than those who have been together for twice as many years or more.
It all started with the year of the floods. Roads washed out, pastures under lakes, a limited hay crop because there was no way to get the hay put up. The amount of times my husband and I got stuck in the mud was too many to count.
Then came the year of the frigid cold temperatures. I am talking 25 below for close to a month’s time. My husband’s parents, who we work with, had taken on an extra 200 head of heifers to calve out during that February. Something our operation doesn’t normally do, but they had to make up money on a lost investment deal. The temperatures left for late nights, little sleep, and many calves who lost tails and ears.
Then came the year of the freeze. An April storm came through, leaving thousands of power lines down in the Sandhills. The ranch was left without power for six days, wells were not running, and everything was iced over, not to mention our houses were cold. Yet another trial.
Then came two years of drought, the lowest calf prices in a decade, and another low hay crop. To top it off, we said an earthly goodbye to a grandparent each year since we had been married and my older sister passed away unexpectedly.
So God, when are we going to get a break?
Sometimes We Don’t Get a Break
It could have been easy to get caught up in the trials. Many ranchers we know stepped away during these times. They couldn’t take the weather as they were getting older or their operations couldn’t hold on any longer financially.
All these trials, and all the times we pulled through, remind me of the encouraging words written by Paul:
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and
Romans 5:3-5 ESV
endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to
shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has
been given to .us
This verse reminds me amongst all the trials in ranching, or even in life, how on the other side we have not lost anything but gained so much. Character, hope, determination, a deeper faith, the list goes on. And that’s what I am grateful for.
How to Rejoice Through Suffering
I rejoice in our sufferings. I rejoice in the times we said goodnight and turned to our separate sides of the bed because we were so tired. I rejoice in the times we didn’t have date nights because of the late nights on the ranch. Without rejoicing, these times would have been so dark.
How do we stay positive in an industry that is so volatile?
When everything seems out of our hands when it is all said and done, these are the things that I cling to in order to keep a sound mind.
1. Surround yourself with other positive and grateful people.
We are sponges, and who we surround ourselves with are who we are going to be.
2. Don’t fear for the future and handle what is given to you with a perspective of hope and gratitude.
Amongst the floods we were grateful for the grass.
Amongst the droughts we were grateful for not getting stuck in the mud.
Amongst the freeze we were grateful for the beautiful days, and healthy cattle.
My husband and I have learned, to survive the times of trial, we must focus on the now, be grateful for what we are given, and not fear for the future.
Jesus said it best:
Matthew 6:34 ESV
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient
for the day is its own trouble.
An encouragement for all of us, as we go through the storms of life, if we hold tight to our faith,
the storms will not uproot us, but make us stronger, and more resilient to the difficulties we may
endure through all seasons.
Meet Kadi Walnofer
Kadi Walnofer was born in raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As a little girl she fell in love with the idea of country living and was romanticized by the idea of marrying a cowboy. That dream came true in 2017 when she married a third generation cattle rancher in the Sandhills of Nebraska. But the dream and reality were not everything she expected; she was lost, and lonely. After a miscarriage and a huge calling from the Lord, Kadi is confident in declaring her passion still lives for agriculture and the people in ag, but her passion lives more for Christ and where He is found amongst these hardworking, gritty, resilient people.
Now a mom to three kids, Kadi finds herself busy between mothering, editing the small town’s local publication, sharing life through her online ministry, Braided Branch Co, and of course, being a ranch wife.
You can find Kadi on most social media accounts @braidedbranchco or at kadiwalnofer.com
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
10 Things You Might Be Doing That Keep Your Friendships Shallow
(+ 1 Simple Habit to Shift Your Direction)
If you long for deep, meaningful relationships, this is for you!
