Smithfield Correspondence

By Esther McCoy

I saw a story on Facebook that brought tears when I read about a farmer who had to finish combine work the following day when a piece of equipment broke down. And it’s something that was just meant to be because he has a memory that he will not forget.

While going around past the fence that bordered the road, he noticed a car sitting alongside the field. He stopped and asked if something was wrong. The driver said she had her three grandchildren from Florida up for a visit, and she wanted them to see farming in action. The farmer offered the children a ride around the field. The boys were excited and agreed, while the girl declined. Stopping after the trip, he asked the girl why she didn’t want to go. She said that her brothers said farming was not for girls. “They are wrong,” explained the farmer. “There are girl farmers too,” so the young miss agreed. The farmer let her navigate at one point, which put a smile on her face that would light up New York City. The grandmother was filming the entire event with a big smile of pride, as well. You can imagine the little miss having a different attitude about farming when she alighted from the tractor. Being quiet while her brothers enjoyed themselves, she was now a chatterbox of joy.

If the equipment had not broken down the day before, he would not have been out in the field, and the grandmother, boys, girl, and most of all, the farmer, would not have been there to enjoy such an experience.

This year, the Buckeye Local Panthers have had some bad luck with COVID-19 restrictions, but they won the Caldwell football game on Oct. 1. I could understand the frustration when it happened two times after they had practiced so hard.

I’m excited about watching the World Series playoff and then the playoffs for the winner. Not any of my first-of-the-season teams are in the group, though.

I have a bookmark that lists life principles to live by from Dr. Charles F. Stanley. One of the 30 is that God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it — even if it seems unreasonable at the time.