Rana Zeller – Zeller Harvesting Co.
Trusting Dad
Do you want to butcher chickens with me this Saturday,” Dad said. “Yes, I can’t wait” said the excited three year old girl. “Oh hun, I’m not sure she should be so excited to butcher,” said Mom. “Its okay, shes just going to be like her grandma Wilma,” said Dad.
That was me, the little girl who, without question said yes to something she knew nothing about. Of course Saturday came, my dad told me it was time to butcher. I went outside to see the huge steel pot of boiling water, and chickens laying around with no heads. My dad dipping a chicken into the pot, and what seemed to be a mad man plucking chicken feathers. Next thing I know, hes asking me to carry the lifeless, headless, featherless thing into mom for her to finish. WOW! As I made my way to the sidewalk, I began to cry “mom, look what dad did to your chickens”. This is my first memorable agricultural experience. The first of many.
I can remember a time not so long ago, when I was to embarrassed to share such a story. I was a kid who got paid $1.00 to pull weeds in a half acre garden, who learned to cut hamburger off the bone of a cow during butcher time, the child who learned to play with cow feed in a huge box with my little brother late at night because my parents were milking. I was the girl who came home during junior high and milked a cow because my parents wanted to give us the best. The child who stayed up late helping my mom can, those are wonderful memories. I was the girl who got up early enough to clear the front yard of large cow bones my dad had given the dogs before the bus came, so I wouldn’t have to talk about my agricultural experiences, and not have to hear what others had to say of them. Kids will come up with anything to make fun of someone.
How true the term “it builds character” is. I can remember my mom telling me, it was the best way to live. It was a chosen preference of my parents. Little did I know, I was being taught what life was. For me, it was a much better way of life than those who lived in town and thought blood and guts were disgusting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all girl. I’m also all determination, and ready to do what I’ve got to do. I can be the classiest woman I need to be, in every situation.
II Timothy 4:2 says, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. While not all readers are “licensed ministers”, we all preach to others on a daily basis in our actions and how we handle every situation. I want to connect with the be instant in season, out of season part. How could a three year old agree to do something as drastic as butchering chickens without knowing what was in store. I had a trusting relationship with my father. I knew he loved me. Even in the new experiences, he was going to lead me to it, it was going to work out for the best. Was I quite disgusted, obviously! Did I think my mom was going to be upset, yes! Why didn’t my dad take the time to explain to me what was going to happen? I’m sure there were multiple reasons. The main one I can see is that had I known exactly what was going to happen, I may have been reluctant to do it. I can assure you, whether I wanted to take part in the situation or not, it was inevitable. I was going to do it, because it was part of my father’s plan. It was what was best for me and best for my family.
So often we ask for the whole picture, and want to know all the details when we are lead to do something. Life can be a bloody mess at times. Being instant in season and out, allows us to plunge into God’s plan without question. I will take this moment to say, God is not the designer of bad things or bad situations. This comes from the world we live in. However, God is giver and designer of life. He is the father we can trust, before we know the whole process and outcome. Its so important to remember, things won’t always be as they are now. Good or bad.
Butchering is hard work. Life is hard work. If we want the meat, we have to do be willing to endure the process.
I’m writing from Blue Ridge, Tx. We love this job. Its the first corn job for us this year. We were on our way here last Thursday. Just before we pulled into the job site a seasoned employee rear ended one our campers with our new F350. Not really the way we wanted to start our corn season. We choose not to throw a fit in these situations. After all, it was an accident. We are currently looking at the end of the month before we can even get the truck in the shop to be worked on. Its our shop truck, the one my husband uses for everything during harvest. It totaled the camper in front, and done damage to our brand new crew bunk house. There is always a way to work with the situation, work is the key word. We have got to be willing to work, instantly.
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
