My first full time summer job was working on a produce farm when I was only 14 years old. This job experience was invaluable from what it taught me. I also learned the benefits of cantaloupe filled with ice cream! What I enjoyed most in the job, was going to the local farmer’s market to sell what we grew.
October celebrates the bounty of harvest. Our family tradition is to have a large turkey and ham dinner and along with several other dishes, Orange Jello Salad, a recipe hailing from the 80’s and passed down from my mother. My wife was going to remove it from the menu; fortunately, however, one of my daughter in-laws came to my defence stating that it was why she married into our family! As my wife will do anything to see her grandchildren, the manipulation ploy was a success. Orange Jello Salad remains on the menu!
Celebrating harvest is easy when you’ve experienced abundance but giving thanks during lean times or difficulty isn’t as simple. The business philosopher, Jim Rohn, states that we should always give thanks for the harvest regardless the size.
Giving thanks is a humbling experience, requiring us to pause and acknowledge that someone or something has contributed to what we have. It wasn’t just by our own hand. It requires us to look at what we have, not our lack. It moves us away from ourselves to see others and causes us to think generously with a heart of abundance.
Enjoy the bounty and richness your community has brought into your life this past season and take a moment to thank those who’ve contributed to your abundance.
From my family to yours,
Lowell Harder
