A Dairy Woman’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

We're hurting. This industry that we love is on fire right now, and not in a good way. Lord, our prices are low, costs of production high, and that's bad enough, but the worst thing about this downturn is the people.

Lord, we're turning on each other, with shouts of "You're big, it's your fault!" and "You're small, so shut up!" My mama taught me that shut ups aren't nice. Lord, I ask that you rain not water down upon us, though we need it. What we need more is the rain of your love, mercy, and a reminder of your infinite forgiveness. Lord, help us to remember that we all have a common love, the cows who sustain us. Help us remember that we are all in this together, big and small, black and white and brown, east and west. Help us to remember what our jobs really are, to provide the blessed milk you created to feed hungry people.

God, remind us of what your Son taught us, to love thy neighbor as thyself. If anything is obvious in all the rancor and acrimony, everyone loves themselves a whole lot. So let's extend that love to our friends, neighbors, and those we don't agree with so that we can keep doing what we love, and make a decent living for our families.

Lord, I ask forgiveness for my own rancor and acrimony. Please show me how to be a positive part of a solution.

Lord, I know this is a lot to ask. But I also know that You are greater than all of this. Please God, please please please. Return kindness and civility to our industry, because that is the first step to our survival. Amen.