Farmer Jim

Grampy told me about a friend he was talking with in the coffee shop a few days ago. The gentleman he was talking with is called Farmer Jim. He is in his eighties, has been a farmer his entire life and has always wore bib overalls. Anyway, they were talking about how their Christmas went. Farmer Jim spent Christmas with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were sitting around opening presents and he got a new pair of bib overalls, a few other presents and then another new pair of bib overalls. Grampy said Farmer Jim was so excited to have two new pairs of bib overalls at the same time, this is the first time in his life that he had two new pairs of bibs at the same time!

I do not know Farmer Jim, but could see and hear the excitement in his voice and eyes as Grampy related the story to me. It also made me think about myself and our home. This gentleman has never had two new pairs of pants at the same time and I have more clothes than one dresser can hold. I certainly cannot wear them all at once and do not need them, but have them I do. It made me think of the greed and materialism that is in our world, not everyone's world, but many of us in the United States. How many of us have more than one vehicle? We do. How many of us have more than one bathroom in our house? We do. How many of us have more than one television or more than one computer in our homes? The list could go on and on.

Many of us buy more and more things to bring ourselves happiness and joy. I am assuming that Farmer Jim does not follow that philosophy for his life, yet look at what he does have. He was able to spend Christmas with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one of the biggest joys any of us could ever pray for! Four generations spending the day together!