Fluffy Sand for Milk Cows--and How Not to Become Weary in Well Doing

This summer, while visiting friends, we got a trailer load of hay for a very good price.

While there we also visited a nearby Non-GMO dairy farm.

It is not organic, but they do make sure all their feed is certified non-GMO.

With 1500 head of dairy cows, (and the overseer told us that is a small dairy!) they use up tons of feed every day.

Ground corn is mixed with various other grains.

Straw is added for fiber.

Then molasses is added from this huge container and mixed in. You can see the dark liquid drizzling in as a mixer stirs inside the huge feed container.

One of the most interesting things we were told was that every two or three days, this machine pictured below is used to fluff up the sand used for the cows' bedding.

As you can see, there are stalls for the cows to bed down in at night, and each cow seems to know which stall she belongs in.

The workers could leave the sand as it is all the time, but when the machine churns the sand up nicely every couple of days, it is sort of like you having a new mattress that hasn't been lain on for 20 years and doesn't have any spring anymore. 

Fluffed up sand for bedding literally increases milk production by approximately 4 or 5 pounds of milk a day!

He said that when "the girls are happy," they make lots of milk! 

They have everything figured out scientifically so that as much milk is produced as possible--for these cows that means around 13 -14 gallons a day. They are milked three times a day and when they don't produce more than 10 or so gallons, the cow is no longer used for milk.

Comfortable, daily rest is very necessary for the milk production in these cows.

And rest for our minds and hearts is necessary in our Christian walk to produce abundant fruit in our lives.

 I couldn't help thinking about the Lord.

He has said, "Come unto Me and rest."

He wants us to come to Him not so that we can sit around doing nothing all day, 

but so that He can refresh us for the good work of "doing good."

Every day, He fluffs up the sand of our hearts with a fresh promise, or a fresh verse, or He speaks to us from a hymn or a song,

or we are encouraged by a friend or a pastor or a mentor. 

Every day we grow weary.

Yet God wants to keep us fresh and rested so that we do not become discouraged and weary in doing good. How can this be?

Today's devotional from Desiring God about not growing weary in doing good was one of the most inspirational and encouraging messages I have read in a long time.

David Mathis writes: "Those who genuinely “do good” will be tempted soon enough to grow weary. Give yourself to doing good for others — on God’s terms, to fulfill his calling — and it’s just a matter of time before you will be tempted to tire...

When doing good gets tough — and it will — Paul does not simply say, “Don’t quit.” He says, “Do not grow weary.”
...God means for his people to give our lives, what precious little time we have, to “doing good.” ... That kind of doing doesn’t simply “overflow” or happen effortlessly. It takes intentionality and practice and planning. “Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

 

“Doing good” is not just for peaceful, convenient times in our life, but just as much for seasons of suffering and conflict. [italics mine.] “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19; see also 1 Peter 2:15). Are we excused from “doing good” when wronged? “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). How do we fight back against the darkness? “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."...

First, when tempted to grow weary, ask with open hands, Am I “doing good,” on God’s terms, for others’ good and not just my own? Am I serving others, or self, with my sense of calling? When resistance comes, internally or externally, we do well to ask about the nature of the opposition:

• Is this resistence a gift from God?
• Are people who manifestly love me trying to helpfully redirect me?
• Am I being opposed by those who aren’t defining “good” on God’s terms?
• In my “doing good,” am I seeking my own glory instead of God’s (John 7:18)?

Opposition presents us with the opportunity to humble ourselves and test our labors. The temptation to weariness begins as a chance to check our own hearts. As we release our grip on what we’re doing, we can test to what degree it is “good,” and whether it might be better. Are we truly serving the needs of others, or just actualizing our own selfish desires?"

For the whole article here is the link: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/dont-grow-weary-doing-good