For many of us, Christmas looks a little different than it does in a Hallmark movie. The snow doesn’t fall just right, the wind bites harder than we’d like, and chores don’t take a holiday. Cattle still need to be fed, waterers kept running and hay hauled, whether it’s Dec. 1, Dec. 25 or any other day of the month. And yet, even in the middle of all the work, there’s something sacred about this season that reaches deep into the heart of those who live this rural life.

Now, I’m not shy about the fact that I’m not a Christmas person. And by that I mean, I don’t like Christmas music, think decorations should only be out after Thanksgiving and tend to relate more to the Grinch than Cindy Lou Who. The over-the-top decorations, big gifts and glitter everywhere just cause me more stress than excitement. However, this time of year reminds us that light shines even in the darkest or most ordinary places. For farmers and ranchers, that might mean finding gratitude in a year that’s been full of challenges from weather that tested our patience, screwworms moving north, a government that kept us guessing and long days that seemed to stretch on forever. Yet, through it all, you’ve kept going. That perseverance, that quiet faithfulness to your work and families, mirrors the heart of the Christmas story itself.

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season – the travel, the lists, the expectations. But maybe this Christmas season, as you tend to cattle or drive across frosted pastures or sit in a church pew, we can pause to remember what it’s all really about – the reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only son, who He sent down to sacrifice for us.

Christmas also reminds us to look outward. Just as we care for the animals and land entrusted to us, we’re called to care for the people around us. In a time of uncertainty and struggle for many, a kind word, helping hand or an extra seat at the dinner table can carry more meaning than any wrapped gift.

As we close this year and look toward the next, my wish for you is to find hope when days are hard, peace when the world feels restless and love that endures beyond this holiday season. From all of us at Progressive Cattle, Merry Christmas! May God bless you, your home and your herd this holiday season.