Why do we do what we do?

Why do we do what we do?  Why do you do what you do?  Isn't that a question we all ask?  Lately the word LEGACY has been floating around in my mind.  I hear it on the radio, at church, in the beautiful livestock pictures on Pinterest... Legacy.

Our family has been busy lately.  Entirely too busy I might say!  Early this spring the kids and I gave a beef cooking demonstration at our local Extension Office, helped Shawn host a county livestock producer meeting, burned pastures, attended ballet practices and served on several local missions trips for our church.  We've started our garden and begun to think about summer 4-H projects.  Shawn traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the lobbying process for our local rural telecommunications company all the while preparing the farm ground for corn planting and taking care of necessary "spring cleaning" at the feedlot.

Life creeps up on you doesn't it!  Our advertising picture for the feedlot is a family portrait of all of us standing in front of the cattle pens.  We laugh about the fact that as our families grow we are constantly behind the ball when it comes to updating the ad picture!  If you're like us- even when the opportunity to take a picture presents itself, chances are not all of the family is still available, Or you've forgotten to charge the camera battery and can't take it anyway!

Our most recent family activity had nothing to do with the feedyard.  But after much reflection, I can say it has everything to do with leaving a legacy.  We just returned from western Nebraska for Shawn and Shane's grandfather- Wayne Tiffany's funeral.  I watched in amazement 80 plus people pack into the tiny chapel to honor this old cowboy.  After taking family pictures (yes, my battery was charged this time!) in the church basement we drove through the most beautiful wide open spaces on a "backroads" trip through the Sandhills.  Wayne's family, his pride, his blood, sweat and tears, his faith in God and sacrifice for doing what he loved shows through the generations and has been passed down with great reverence.  Our family has copies of his stories of ranching and raising his family that are irreplaceable and as we drove the sandy open range roads reading through them, I realized WE are his living legacy...

To me, this is why we do what we do.  We are continuing to live and pass along that legacy.  To serve those who need it most, to work hard to keep our promises- whether in business or friendship.  To take care of what God's entrusted us with... land, cattle, kids so that they too can leave a legacy.

Why do you do what you do?  Maybe it's to honor those you love.  Or maybe it's to get you from point A to point B in life.  Maybe it's not glamorous (think fresh cow patty!) but it's what needs to be done so that someone else has food on their table.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to slow down and reflect on why we are busy.  But... the cattle & kids are calling me again and I've gotta go!

Be blessed,

Nicky

Nicky is a friend of mine who guest blogs for me from time to time about Life in a Kansas Feedyard.  Keep checking back this year for regular updates on her family and their cattle!  -Debbie.