No longer are our enemies weather, droughts, and wild animals; but rather quite simply-one another. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about both motherhood and farming. Farming and motherhood were both-by unique design-intended for the survival of humankind. Ironic, isn’t it that the basic necessities to our communities are what drive us to a level of competition and negativity and fear. In a place and time when our basic needs are so fully met we allow consumerism, corporations, greed and power to hold us back in ways like never before. It’s as if once we created a sense of protection from nature we went seeking something new to battle, control, take over. And we very unfortunately landed on one another as something to conquer, suppress. What can we do differently? I think that those of us who are privileged enough with the time and energy to contemplate such things must speak up and out about it. To shed light on the truth-even if it’s ugly. Most importantly, to consider how everyone may benefit from something different, something better.
That’s what I do every time I believe in a mama to give birth and to breastfeed her baby. Or when I believe in a farmers ability to grow good food and sell it to just enough folks. That’s what I’ll continue doing as I support my husband and teach my children to do the same. It’s why I seek to work alongside others welcoming them into my home or meeting them for a cup of coffee (to talk it out). It’s hard, exhausting work, but so is farming and motherhood. Let’s all take a moment to really consider the level of effort and work and giving of self that being a mother or farmer requires. In doing so I think we’ll watch that next commercial with eyes wide open, or have that conversation about motherhood differently or consider the ways that we fuel our bodies for tomorrow. It gives me hope that once again we will offer dignity and grace to the ways our basic needs are met.
