Wisdom & Grace: Wisdom & Grace: When it's springtime on the prairie

Be assured of this one thing: I love spring!

Recently I took a pole of my grandkids of what their favorite season is. Kami likes fall because of the pretty colors. Karter prefers summer because there's no school and he likes to go swimming. Kord likes spring because it is fun to play outside. Kace is keen on summer because of rodeos. Knox prefers spring because his birthday will soon be here. Katy and Ila love summer because they get to go swimming. They live in Miles City and they love the Froggy Pool. And Janessa loves springtime because she has started running everywhere and it so much more fun outside than cooped up in the house all winter.

But my favorite season of the year has always been spring. Recently I tried to remember how long I have loved springtime. You guessed it ... always.

Here are some of the things I love about springtime:

Baby calves - Seeing a calf jump and run in the pasture has to be one of the most idyllic sights ever! And seeing a mother cow clean off her newborn and tenderly "moo" life into it is precious. Ranchers receive a new hope that "Next Year" has arrived and things are going to be just fine.

Recently I shared a story with my grandkids and they had that "Really, Grandma?" look in their eyes not sure they should believe it or not.

"When I was growing up, at night, I would take a shift and go out and check on the cows for new babies. I would saddle my horse Rosie, grab a flashlight and make the rounds of our herd of cattle, usually on the northwest side of the reservoir. If a cow needed help, I would head her in toward the barn. We had a great cow dog named Jet and he seemed to know exactly how to help. When we (Rosie, Jet and I) got her in the barn, I would go and wake Dad up. He handled the rest."

Most of our cows now are black Angus with a few black baldies (white faces). As a kid we mainly raised Herefords. I am convinced that there is nothing as cute as a Hereford newborn. But really ... any calf is adorable.

Canada geese flying by on their way north - Sometimes they stop and congregate in a stubble field as they pass by our community on their way to their Nordic summer habitat. They honk and greet all that are below. I love two things about Canada geese. The first thing is that they mate for life. I always feel a bit sad when I see a goose by themselves because I suspect the mate has met his/her demise.

I also like the way they fly in a "V" taking turns being the leader and breaking the way for those farther out to have an easier flight.

Meadowlarks - What animal has a more beautiful sound than a meadowlark? They sit on a fence post and sing and sing. Whenever I hear one I try to always stop and say, "Thank you" and "Thank you, God, for your beautiful creation."

Wild sweet peas and buttercups - I love roses and I love carnations but I really love the yellow wild sweet peas that grow on the coulee banks and now on the side of our graveled Amos Trail. And I love the yellow buttercups that grow with the prairie grass.

A fond memory of my country school days at Staton Coulee School was picking sweet peas for our mothers and a Mother's Day Program. The teacher sent all eight students (Sharon, Delbert, Cynthia, Calvin, Marcia, Roger, Gayle and myself) out with coffee cans. We came back with coffee cans loaded and overflowing with beautiful yellow flowers. The fragrance is so sweet. In my mind's eye, I can still those beautiful bouquets decorating the front of the schoolhouse.

Running water in the coulees, filling the reservoirs - Having enough water for the cows to get through summer and fall is always a concern. But when the snow melts and the water runs in the coulees and fills the reservoirs, we know we can keep the cows on our own pasture.

Green grass - Many people take for granted the green grass. Once the prairie was covered with snow. When the snow melted the prairie was drab and brown. But with a little moisture and some sunny days, it seems the green grass pops out unbelievably fast. You might look out the window and see brown hills and the next day they are turning green.

Longer days - Let it be known: Ila McClenahan is a June 21st person! I love to wake up after a good night's sleep and it is already getting light out. And I love going to bed before the sun completely sets.

Planting seeds - Farmers are busy right now getting their seeds in the ground. Farmers and ranchers are truly hopeful individuals.

My definition and understanding of faith is that we do everything on our part, which is as much as we possibly can do ... and then praying and trusting God to do the rest. That is exactly what farmers do when they till, fertilize and plant the seeds. They know that unless God sends the rains, there will be little harvest. This is very true with cattle also. We do our best genetically and care for them the best we know how to. But it is ultimately God in Heaven who sends the increase.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So, neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything. So, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; and you are God's field, God's building." I Corinthians 3:6-9

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Ila McClenahan is a retired chaplain and activity director living north of Havre in the Amos Community where she was raised. She spends her time speaking at Christian events, volunteering for community organizations, and chauffeuring grandkids.