~ by Chris Young
This article was originally published in PCJH’s  Summer / Fall 2026 Pinnacle, “Rhythms of Faith”

Jerome and I ranch in Buffalo Valley sharing our life and work with our son John, and the world’s best grandkids, Paisley and Eli. We raise quality cattle. Jerome also manages The Hatchet Ranch which adjoins ours. The Hatchet is owned by Barbara Carlsberg, a special woman and also a member of PCJH. I was raised on our ranch and the Hatchet. We were richly blessed and highly favored.

The rhythms of our lives are determined by the seasons. Winter finds us daily feeding hay bales to our cattle and the ranch horses and mules that call The Hatchet Ranch home. April finds us calving our cows.

After being approached for this article, I got to thinking about our rhythms of life and, specifically, simplicity and peace of mind. Or is there any such thing ?

I’m a shepherd, no, a cowman. And as long as you have a herd, you’re always responsible. The Lord is my shepherd – I’ll walk with Him always. And if the Father cares for the sparrows, surely He will care for me, my family, and my livestock. He walks with me and he talks with me. But how well do I hear? Still, I am comforted by His Words.

Lying in bed at night, I sometimes wonder to myself, “Are my baby calves okay? Will that cow calve tonight? Oh, I wish the wind wasn’t howling like this.”

But I pause in my worries. “Oh Lord! Thank you for that song,” I think to myself. And I remember a passage that reads, “Sometimes the biggest miracle isn’t that God shows up. It’s discerning that he was with you the whole journey.” Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

But, back to simplicity! Don’t let your focus be on things. Do not become anxious about your life. But, my Lord, I am anxious about my cows’ lives. If one of them calves tonight in this howling wind with the blowing snow, will that baby calf survive?

I’ve read that simplicity means freedom to trust God to care for our things—simplicity to have faith God will care for our cows, our kids and my husband and to have faith God will also give me the wisdom to care for those He’s gifted to me.

Jerome is out at daybreak each day to check the cows. This morning he comes in and says, “That #15 cow you were concerned about last night—she calved and I can’t believe how frisky the little thing is with the way that weather was last night.” Thank you, thank you Lord! Another reminder that
I am richly blessed and highly favored.

We must keep God’s Word in our mind and heart for true peace. Driving yesterday the best song on the car radio was:

“In my darkest hour, I find a higher power, Rescues me and sets me free, God give me the key, And open my eyes Lord, that I may see Glimpses of beauty Thou has for me”.

I live in the most beautiful place—coming home passing the cows in the evening, the sunlight on Mount Leidy to the south is so incredibly beautiful. And, Lord, I can’t believe the amazing color of the clouds on the Tetons this evening. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me eyes to see. I’m richly blessed and highly favored.

I got to thinking last fall. We had a big cow that came uplame on her front leg. I said, “She’s had it. Let’s load her up and haul her to market.” But Jerome says, “No, let’s give her a week. I think she might have simply wrenched it.”

So we managed to get her to hobble to the barnyard where we could keep her close to feed and water, and in a week she was so much better. She spent the winter in the barnyard and became our dear cow, Aunt Alice.

I have a little saying I try to live by. ‘‘You’re not God. This isn’t heaven . Don’t act like a spoiled brat.” But I’d like to add something to the saying, “But it’s okay to cry”. Richly blessed and highly favored. ✝