Have you ever thought about your dividing line? By that I mean the permanent line that divides the before and after in your life.
For many adults, the dividing line is before and after having children. For me, that line was drawn on July 9, 2019, when our heifer barn went up in flames. In the 11-hour blaze, we lost two barns, two skid loaders and the entirety of our farm’s hay, straw, cottonseed and bedding supply. Thankfully no heifers were injured or lost, but all those 200 heifers had to be relocated.
While the days after the fire are somewhat of a blur, what I remember the most was the united front of our farm and our family. Everyone pitched in, lending a helping hand. My kids never once complained about a to-do list that instantly grew longer. They saw the uncertainty in their parent’s eyes, but they also saw the sheer will and determination to push forward. I use this memory as an eternal compass to push forward when tough days resurface.
When COVID-19 caused shutdowns and uncertainty, I watched dairies all across the U.S. do what we did before a global pandemic hit — care for our cattle, land and family. It was easy to get lost in all the unknowns, but on our farm, and for our family, we managed OK. I credit our family’s resilience to our dividing line that caused my children to grow up a little faster. Witnessing two older generations who knew there was no other choice but to push forward, my kids followed suit, demonstrating maturity, dedication and commitment.
Character Test
Steve Pavilina, the American self-help author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur, says it best when he said, “Courage is the dividing line between weakness and the strength of character.”
Adversity is a character test. From roller-coaster milk prices, rising interest rates, weather and supply chain hiccups, dairy farmers are used to dealing with adversity and things beyond their control. Our character is challenged daily.
If your world has not been divided, just wait, it will. And, once it does, your world will go from black and white to color. Sometimes the light comes on for the darkest reason possible, but it provides the much-needed boost we only understand after the line has been permanently marked.
The next time a hardship happens, try to think of it more as a dividing line to boost your family and farm forward with motivation.
