“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
When my aunt and uncle were recently visiting from the Midwest, I was reminded about how, when I was a little girl, I had promised my grandfather that I would never marry a farmer. At the time, he had laughed at me and said that you always marry the opposite of who you say you will. My grandpa towered over 6-year-old me at a whopping 5’7″ and swore he would marry a taller woman to “even out the genes.” Then he met my grandma and fell instantly in love with all four 4’10” of her! Nevertheless, I was convinced no “farmer” had any chance of winning me.
My great-grandparents had owned grain elevators in Kansas and I had characterized farmers as always being dirty, working long hours, and I didn’t see the glory in it. For a few years, I even lived with my parents on their 7-acre hobby farm where we had chickens and a garden, sheep, goats, cows, a horse, and even a llama. When I grew up, I knew the life I wanted for myself included living in a big city, working as high-profile lawyer in some shiny, high-rise building, wearing pencil skirts and stilettos every day, and never having to wash eggs or shovel manure EVER again.
Fast forward a few years and I am married to the most wonderful, handsome, God-loving computer programmer there ever was! My grandpa would have been proud! And I’m sure if my grandpa was still here, he’d give me that classic wink and a smile that says, “I told you so!” You see, despite marrying someone in the tech industry, it seems that God’s plans are much higher than my plans (Isaiah 55:8-9) and maybe pencil skirts and stilettos aren’t where I should place all my aspirations.
For the last year and a half or so, Benjamin and I have increasingly been lead toward the goals of purchasing property, building an “eco-friendly”, sustainable home, and living in a self-sufficient manner, working the earth God has given us and living solely dependent on Him (Genesis 1:26-30). The journey, though barely started, has not been without fears and doubt and the occasional ugly cry whenever I imagine living in a dirt house and milking the cows every morning. But through it all I have learned that even as a highly empowered woman like myself, the most empowering act is one of submission to God and to the man He has placed in my life and asked me to love and serve. Sure, the idea of pioneering land comes in stark contrast with my urban chic view of myself, but my prayer is that through living by faith and not by sight, I will find God’s plan for my life more fulfilling than the plans I had in mind.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” Jeremiah 29:11
One of the most amazing elements of marriage for me has been the mutual conjoining of our dreams and goals. Through numerous intricate circumstances which have led us to aspire to mutual goals, I have found myself browsing land-for-sale websites and actually getting excited about building our own home and raising chickens! God certainly has a sense of humor, and whether or not He and my grandpa were in cahoots all along, I have quickly found that home IS where the heart is, and my heart is with Benjamin, and his dream is to farm sustainably, and I am content.