Musings of a Badlands Ranch Wife

Where did summer go? It is already August, about time for me to go back to teaching, and I am wondering how time flew by so fast. That really is the story for all of us- where did the time go? My husband and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary in May of this year. I will admit, I am very proud of this milestone. There is no real significance to 37 years, but for me it was something special. Why? Not sure, but I have spent a lot of time in reflection this year. Our life has not been a storybook of beautiful rainbows and sunshine. It has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, no different than anyone else, but we have weathered it together. Many have asked us how we make it work- divorce is so common that longevity in marriage is not that common anymore. Well, there really is no big secret- just a word called commitment. And of course, there are the little things- like the raisins. This crazy summer found my husband and I on the road quite often, hauling mares to be bred, horses to trainers, cows to pasture, and several short weekends for a quick getaway. Everyone knows that road trips require snacks- for us it seems to always be trail mix. If only someone would make trail mix without raisins! As we were venturing down the road one hot summer day, I was behind the wheel as my husband handed me my share of the trail mix. I would just open my hand, he would put the trail mix in, and I would shove it in my mouth like a starving glutton. I always feel lucky – I never get the raisins that I so dislike in each dump. But how??? I glanced over before I asked for my next handful and watched my husband. He was picking out each raisin and eating them before he gave my share. He doesn’t like raisins either. But he was doing this for me…. So simple and small, but it meant the world to me. That, folks, is what makes it work- the little everyday things that do not require a pat on the back, profound thank-you’s, and special recognition. Small sacrifices, unbeknownst to the receiver, all for the simple pleasure of demonstrating your love for another. Yup, it really is just about the raisins…

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13