The farmer has it figured out…

When my son was a toddler I bought him a book for Christmas called

It was often our bedtime reading material: a widower farmer living alone goes through continual events of struggle, loss, and disappointment. In between these events, however, he is a man of faith, persistence, hard work, and goodness. He’s a real take-time-to-smell-the-roses kind of guy who is also a good Samaritan, even in the middle of his own trials. And in the end… well, I can’t spoil it for you. You can borrow Lukey’s copy if you’re interested in reading it.

I loved that book.

I love that book.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my 45 years on this earth (over 46 if we count time spent in the womb, though I question just how much I could have learned in there) is that there are seasons of life. Times when it’s clear and cool. Times when it’s grey. Times when it’s storming. Even times when everything is covered in fog. Right now we’re enjoying a beautiful summer with a healthy amount of rain. But we all know, especially for those of us living north of the 42nd parallel, that winter is coming. It always does.

Maybe your season of life right now is horrifying like in 

Or depending on which part of the movie, it could be full of love, hurt, heartache, or bliss like in Or perhaps you’re frustrated or living through a series of misadventures that only seem funny to other people watching you, like in . Either way, be like the Farmer. Enjoy the wonderful things in life. Be faithful. Prayerful. Work hard. And when it’s tough, tuck your shoulder in and push through. Seasons pass. But we can always trust that beautiful things are created through each one of them.

Congratulations . This is your week.

Best Actress: Zooey Deschanel as Summer in .

Best Actor: John Candy (yes, the same actor who received this honour last week) as Jack Chester in

Best Quote: “We should have a plan. Angela Lansbury always had a plan.” — Hellen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in .

I should clarify that though the votes online pointed to as the winner, offline votes were made that resulted in being the clear winner. Happy summer everyone.