Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Sunday 1 December 2013

What would you do?

 This blog post is a little bit different today, it's not about horses of farm life, or maybe it is little bit. 
In the  sense  that  farm  folks or at  least  the ones  I grew up  around  seem to know  this  almost  automatically.
Today is December 1 and in my area at least, that march towards Christmas is in full swing,with  all it  entails, the decorations,  the music, sales everything is looking towards Christmas it is a retail owners dream come true but that's not really what Christmas is about is it?
Yes the  spirit  of  Christmas  means many  things  to many  people and  while the modern “Santa”, gifts and such is  fine  the  true  meaning  for me  lies  deeper
Luke 2:11
A Savior is born.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:14
Glory to God and peace for us.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
John 3:16
God's great love for the world.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Even for those who don't actively practice the Christian faith are  somehow  affected by this  season,  you  see  folks  who  claim not to believe, singing  songs of  joy and  celebrating  on some level the spirit of giving. Family celebrating together caring for one another and bringing together of all of us in special greetings of Merry Christmas or happy holidays if you will. People are in a celebratory mood.
Also just lately I've noticed on a few social media sites the question being posed “what would you do?”
They then go on to suggest if you saw someone struggling to cross the street would you help? If you saw someone pulled over on the side of the road would you offer your assistance? If you saw a woman, man, or, child abused. Animals, lost stressed, injured, neglected. Any number of scenarios of come up, but the question is always “what would you do?”
Where I come from “what would you do?” isn't much of a question, the answer? Quite  simply, whatever I can
I was raised in a rural community and I continue to live in a rural community, the morals and just that  sense of right and wrong has been instilled in me since I was a young child. You do what you can for others and hope that your little bit has helped them in some way.
From the lady several years ago in hospital who was struggling in pain while nursing  staff were trying to start an IV line, I walked over and held her hand and shielded her with my body from the view of the rest of the waiting room to just offer a little comfort where I could. To my niece stopping and picking up an elderly lady walking home with her groceries and driving her home. To my brother-in-law who performed an act of heroism just recently.
Marc was driving to Alberta Beach to help his daughter with her car troubles when he noticed a house with smoke coming out of the siding he immediately contacted his daughter and told her to call 911 that there was a house  on  fire, he then knocked on the door and hollered to see if anyone was in the home. The door opened so Marc walked into house, calling and checking doors to make sure that there was no one lying asleep or had succumbed to the smoke. In the process he rescued a cat then removed himself safely from the house and awaited the fire trucks the time it took from Marc’s call to the house being totally engulfed in flames was less than 30 minutes. This is a brave man, he was aware of the safety risks and followed protocol in searching for people in the home he did not put himself at risk unnecessarily but the family were very glad that someone cared enough to check that one was in the house.
No one was injured, but that question comes again “what would you do?”
Marc like myself and the people in my circle of influence all believe that we treat each other every day like we would like to be treated. When the family thanked Marc repeatedly for having tried to find them and  to see if there was anything he could do to help, his simple response was “I would hope someone would do that for me” As you can imagine I'm pretty proud to know this guy!
As a child I remember my dad pulling over at the neighbors when there was a grass fire and using his good coat to beat out the flames, no question that he would do it, no question that it was his good coat being ruined, our neighbor was in trouble so he helped.
How many situations have we been faced with in our lives where the choice was to turn away and let someone be hurt or struggle or just step up and show one little act of kindness that cost us very little could change a person’s day or life?

So back to the question what would you do?
For me and the folks around me what would we do? Whatever we can
So now especially as we come towards the season of Christmas take a little time here and there to look around and see if someone somewhere could use your help and I am sure from what I've come to know of my blogging family you would all do exactly what you can as well.
I wrote this poem about a different circumstance quite some time ago. It is in my second book but it bears repeating here.

What would you do
If you saw someone needing
on any given day
Would you reach out a hand? or
just turn away?

Would you question the right to be who they are
would you step up and help
or frown from afar

Would you leap straight to
judgement
without asking why
assume they are failing,
from failing to try

When you see someone needing
what would you do
ask yourself now
if that someone was you ?



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you - that is what the spirit of Christmas is really about - not buying stuff.

Buttons Thoughts said...

"Quite simply, whatever I can". I feel exactly the same way and luckily most people I know do too. There is so much good in this world but people never hear about it.
I love your poem and this post. HUGS HUGS B

Shirley said...

This is the one time of year when people actually think of God, and I believe that even thinking of Him is uplifting and brings peace to the heart. To keep that feeling all year long is the challenge. Doing what is right, and putting others before yourself seems to be second nature to country people, maybe not so much to those who live in the hustle and bustle of city life.

kden said...

People that live in rural areas were helpful due to necessity, so it's great that the spirit continues on through generations. As with many people, I do what I can when I can.

Cut-N-Jump said...

I have always answered the same way as Marc- I would hope someone would do it, if it was me, my kids, my house, my animals... You just never know.

Beautiful poem

C-ingspots said...

Such a lovely post Sherry. Thank you for the nice reminder that we keep in mind the true meaning of this season. I believe as you do...a Savior was born, our Savior. I hope and strive to live my life every day as Christ-like as possible. It isn't easy for me, but I will continue to try. I have to pray for strength and the desire for my heart to be changed every single day. But, He who has begun a good work in me, will continue His good work. Like you, I was born in the country, small town life is all I know. My family raised me to "do what we can, whenever we can". Help one another. That's just what good people do, and as another commentor mentioned, you never know when you might be the one in need of someone's help. The golden rule is a good way to live. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. Simple in theory, heaven-like on earth. Enjoy this season of Christmas and rejoice! :)

Janice said...

I like to think I do what I can...sometimes I wish it were more.good poem and you are right that is was thae season should be about.

cdncowgirl said...

That is a great poem, I think I'm going to put a copy of it up somewhere I'll see on a regular basis :)
(and maybe it will be in your next book?)

Kudos to your BIL for helping out that family. It was the right thing to do but still took bravery.