Take Care

By Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation, & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp.

Ialways look forward to spending time with family. Unfortunately, I am not the best at making that happen. It is easy for me to encourage others to take time off from work, take a vacation, watch a movie with their wife or go see a doctor when they do not feel well.

“Identity” is the key component to understanding what happens when we become followers of Christ. We receive a new nature and a new identity. At one time I would have identified myself as a veterinarian who happens to be a Christian. Today that has been realigned and I am firmly a Christian who happens to be a veterinarian.

Most large animal veterinarians are, in general, the same. Our lives are geared toward exceptional customer service, excellence in all areas of practice, animal comfort, welfare and profitability. Often these objectives come at a high price where our families and personal well-being collide with our professional goals. It becomes easy for our identity to rest in the wrong place.

When I do take a break from the rigors of clinical practice, one of my favorite things to do is work (more work) on our family ranches. Although it is work, I find it very fulfilling and rewarding. If I can share these experiences with my grandkids, family or a friend, it becomes an added bonus. I have always been very project minded and have several pressing endeavors on the front burner at all times. My wife Jan is cut from the same cloth and our teamwork is virtually unstoppable. The other day a neighbor referred to us as the “power couple”. I am still not sure if it was a compliment or a dig. We are both list makers and enjoy the endorphin rush experienced from crossing another task off the roster. Sometimes we even do something not on the list, write it down and get great satisfaction from crossing it off.

Most of our ventures are straight forward and completed in house, but on the occasional major project, I call in the big guns, Rusty and Kolt. Rusty is the best son-in-law ever, and Kolt, our 9-year-old grandson, is our able-bodied sidekick. When the three of us put our heads together, things are going to happen. Our combined talent is a force to be reckoned with: The Terrible Triad. So far, we have been relentless. Rusty is a master welder at a power plant in Garden City, Kansas. He is extremely creative, excellent with his hands, wise beyond his years and an absolute joy to be around. Our deep complex brand of sarcasm can be very entertaining.

On one of our much-needed rendezvous, the three of us were plotting our next creative feat. Before we could proceed with our plan, we needed to service a piece of equipment used to complete our pressing project. As Kolt surveyed the situation, he was very frustrated with this untimely delay, insisting that we go right to the project! With his ever-gentle manner, Rusty patiently and convincingly explained to Kolt that for the next couple of hours we needed to take care of what takes care of us.

Kolt changed leads like a fine reining horse, while I stood there with my mouth open and speechless. Suddenly the room became filled with personal conviction and a twinge of guilt for good measure. My mind instantly went to the many things I had been neglecting and procrastinating. Oil that needed changed, machinery that needed greased, sprayers that needed drained, fuel stabilizer for winter gas, the low tire on my vet truck that I just keep adding air to and the pile of junk food wrappers on the floorboard of my pickup. We all get the idea. The list is endless and impossible, and the more we accumulate in this life, the longer the list.

The next few days sparked an inner conversation about the lack of true order and discipline in my life. I questioned balance in the areas of mental and physical well-being, personal relationships and spirituality. Unfortunately, I sometimes become so focused on my tour through the weeds that I lose track of my true destination and priorities. Just a reminder, in order of importance, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, wife, family, friends, work. Although work is a gift from God that births significance, recognition, financial provision, favor and promotion, it should not be at the top of the list I create for myself daily. I continually struggle with the balance that I so desire. Without God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit and the Bible at the head of the list, the stream of wisdom, peace and purpose cannot flow. Take time to blow out the radiator of a neglected relationship; grease the zerks that were ignored over time with the Father through a moment of prayer and thanksgiving. Lift up those who lift you. When it is winter, think summer; when it is summer, think winter. In other words, do not fix the fence three weeks after you have turned out the yearlings, and do not gather your winter’s supply of firewood in January. Plan ahead. The pain of self-control and discipline is always minor to the pain of remorse. My question for you today is are your priorities true and in order and are you investing time to take care of who takes care of you?