Today I had everyone home, and I was watching and listening to some of our kids being anything but calm. They were, in fact, a little highly strung.
It reminded me how important it is not to allow ourselves to get too stressed and of a saying our family has when they want to tell each other to calm down or “chill out”. They say, “just calm your farm”.
I have no idea where they came up with such a saying, but it is a good reminder when someone needs to settle and calm down. Especially when the world and many people around us can be anything but calm and settled.
As a child, I grew up on a farm, and I know that if you get frazzled, loud or erratic in your emotions and expressions, nothing good will happen. The seasons, weather, crops, and other people and livestock do not respond to such behaviour.
When we lose our calm and peace, we can start to fail.
We fail to keep perspective; we fail to think clearly and find solutions; we fail to hear clearly from God and therefore exercise the appropriate leadership and authority God has given us to bring things into proper alignment. Plus, we fail to keep safe and secure those we have an impact on or are responsible for; our family, livestock, property and the wider community.
There will always be some pressure cooker moments wherever we are, regardless of our vocation or life situation. My Dad was a sheep farmer on a large property in the rolling green hills of New Zealand. It is a beautiful part of the world, and many might presume such a life would always be tranquil and peaceful, which it was to a large degree.
However, even in this beautiful setting, I also have vivid childhood memories of my Dad losing his cool as he threw his hands in the air, grabbed his hat off his head and started yelling until he was red in the face at Flo, the sheepdog who was half deaf and therefore totally non-plussed at my Dad’s obvious frustration at her and the silly flock of sheep he was trying to move .Dad could have done with learning to ”calm his farm”.
“Calm your farm” keeps our inner world and our external life together. It’s finding that place of rest and peace so that we keep our composure and calm regardless of what is happening.
A close, healthy, growing relationship and connection with God is the best way to keep “my farm calm”.
Time spent resting in His presence, offloading any worries and stress, reading His Word, and doing what it says throughout the day are great ways also to help you keep calm.
Coupled with proper care of our bodies through regular exercise, good nutrition, realistic expectations of what we can do in a day, and adequate rest and relaxation will safeguard us from the pressures life may try to throw at us. Plus, everyone and everything in our world will thank us for keeping “calm our farm.”
Determine as you go through your day to remain calm and make it a habit to practice those things that bring you peace. One of the fruits of the Spirit and knowing Jesus is self-control so we are capable in Him of being calm. (Galatians 5:22-23)
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)
Prayer: Lord, please help me to find peace and rest in you today. I give you all my concerns and needs today, and I choose to keep my inner peace and calm as I trust you with all the things I need and want to do today. In Jesus name Amen