Christmas in the Country. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

It’s Christmas Eve. To most of us that means a great deal of anticipation for what our friends and loved ones have so carefully wrapped and lovingly placed under the tree. For others it is a time of introspection. Like many families, we have had our challenges and triumphs this year and that is of course what makes us stronger as a family unit. But there is always something magical about this time of year and looking at a Christmas card that was recently sent to us, I think I am beginning to get it. It is a wonderful outdoor scene of a farm or ranch that is covered with snow and there is a wisp of smoke curling from the chimney. It could be just about any place and coming down what I’m sure is a dirt road now packed with snow is a team of horses pulling a sleigh. The two passengers in the front are bundled against the cold while 2 smaller occupants ride in the back along with numerous wrapped packages.

As I stared at this picture my heart told me this was a visit from friends or loved ones that were coming to share some time with the occupants of the home. And that is something magical. Sharing time and company with each other. Seeing people that in many cases are a removed part of our lives. Again, like many of you, our family is wide spread. Some live in California, others in Indiana, Nebraska, South Carolina and even in England and finding time to visit each is sometimes hard to come by. But each year, when the holidays role around something as simple as a phone call or a hand written Christmas card can be the continual binding force.

It is important to reach out and share with each other. Like the child that sits on Santa’s lap and shares their wish list. The cartoon “Family Circus” showed the kids coming back from a trip to see Santa and little Billy said that Dolly had asked Santa what he wanted for Christmas.

This year, take some time to think about the picture of the holiday visit to the friends in the country. Many years ago we had another visit that began in a small stable. See, the best things happen in the country.

From all of us at the Northwest Ag Information Network, here’s wishing you and your family the best of the holiday season. And even if it’s not very politically correct, I will wish each of you a Merry Christmas!

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.