 |
Wardeh Harmon at Gnowfglins posted an article recently called Butchering Our First Grass Fed Beef. In the post, she records for us the butchering of the cow that her family raised for beef. I’m a beef eater and am aware of the processes involved in slaughtering and butchering a cow, although it is not something I have ever witnessed. Reading her post and especially viewing her photos were difficult for me. I was especially troubled by seeing this cow alive one moment and the next …. gone. I really had to take a moment to analyze my thoughts and emotions. Is it just because I’m a city girl far removed from what is really involved with getting food on my table? I’m sure that plays into it. But what I realized is this. Death is an enemy (1Corinthians 15:26). It should always cause us to stop and pause. Because of the death of another, I live. In the physical realm, I need to be aware that another creature’s life nourishes me, and that is not to be taken lightly. More importantly, my soul lives because of the death of another. Left to myself, I wander and am lost. Jesus, that day on the cross, gave His life as a sacrifice so that I may live. I deserved punishment, but He paid the price. And I am fed and nourished. I’m grateful for Wardeh’s post because it was a physical reminder to me of a wonderful spiritual truth.
Shared at: Homesteader Blog Carnival, Monday Mania, Homestead Barn Hop, Fat Tuesday, Living Green, Hearth and Soul, Traditional Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Real Food Wednesday, Rural Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Freaky Friday
That is exactly the thoughts I communicated to my husband and daughter when we reviewed the post together. The meat we eat should give us pause as we consider the cost. We talked about the many animal sacrifices that were made just to atone for sins in the old Testament. We city people are so removed from the process, I think we actually lose more than just the reality that an animal gave it’s life for mine, but that our life is dependent on another’s death and sacrifice for us.
I hadn’t even thought of the OT sacrificial system! That’s something I can’t even begin to fathom.
Wonderful post! This is probably one of the best collections of thoughts on butchering I have had the opportunity to read. Butchering animals for food can be such a tough subject, especially when it comes to dealing with the emotional part. My family has always raised and butchered our own chickens, rabbits, pigs, and beef. Many of the thoughts that you have written here have always been a large part of what I grew up with. Mom and Dad always taught us that God gave us the animals to take care of – that we were their stewards. This included helping them to fulfill the purpose that He made them for, which, for some of them, was to give their lives for meat for us. We were always taught to take the best possible care of them and then when it was their time, to thank God for giving them to us. I love how you have drawn the parallel between the physical world and the spiritual world where this matter is concerned. It is a profound thought to think how a steer can give his life for us to eat and be physically nourished by his body and how Jesus did the same thing for us on the spiritual level. “Just as the Father who has life sent me and I have life because of the Father, so the man who feeds on me will have life because of me” -John 6:57
What wise parents you have! The scripture is perfect. Thanks so much for your note – it it an encouragement to me.
Lovely. Thank you, Susan. And the comments above made it an even richer reading experience. xo
I agree, Rosalyn. One of the things that I love about blogging is what I learn from those who comment.
This is such a great post! We have a family farm, but it was mainly used for raising cattle and then selling them. They used to butcher their own meat but then stopped. I have never killed anything, and I am a die hard animal lover. I have chickens for laying now, and next year I hope to have some meat chickens. It’s such a hard thing, to love something, to provide for it’s needs and then slaughter it. I ended up coming to two conclusions, there is nothing wrong about slaughtering an animal meant for food…as long as we treat it with kindness and respect. That is why God gave us these animals. My other conclusion is that it would be rather scary if the act of slaughtering didn’t cause me to pause and feel sad. Sorry for the long comment, but thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Monica. Yes, I would say we have come to the same conclusions!
Great post – thanks for the link to Wardeh’s post. I’m a city girl myself planning a move to a farmette “someday”. It’s good to know that I can and should expect butchers who are CLEAN – they really were impressive in that regard.
As to your post, I agree with you completely! This is one of the reasons’ why my husband and I will not tolerate picky eating in our (future) children. As city dwellers, it’s so easy to forget that living things gave their lives for your food – that needs to be honored!
We’ve been looking for a table grace/prayer before a meal that acknowledges this fact. I’d love some suggestions!
Here’s the prayer we said before meals when I was growing up, although I don’t think it’s exactly what you are looking for:
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
When our children were little and they complained about something they did not like, my husband would always say, “We will not complain about something that we just thanked God for.”
It definitely makes you think of your food differently when you raise your own. We do our own chickens once a year, and it never feels any easier to me.
Helps you not to take it for granted, I am sure.
This is a great post making a very touchy subject more understood. I love the comments you have great followers. I am a beef farmer and it is nice to know there are people that think this way out there.B
Thanks for visiting. You are the salt of the earth!
i don’t think i could raise my own meat … i would become a vegetation immediately if that was the case. i still remember when my grandfather cut up our own pig …remember it like it was yesterday. the basement was well covered up for health reason … keeping dirt away. the pig head was hanging from the ceiling. really freaked me out. totally. such a wimp am i … i could scream now. i wish no harm to animals ever. but then i have a burger & i remember my place. i feel ok with it when there is no harm to them at all. if they have had a good life. i guess the way the indians live … use them to all uses you can … their hide & all . no waste. the quote makes & means the most. “waste not, want not” … maybe treat well, feed well, kill well. oh, but that still makes me sad. boo hoo. i don’t know if i could kill an animals, clean it & eat it. unless i was in need for food terribly. bye. ha. ha!! (:
I don’t think all of us are meant to raise animals for meat, but we are all to have respect for the process.
I think it’s always good to pause and reflect on our daily meals, no matter where they come from. A thoughtful post. xo
Agreed!
Awesome post….I just did a post on Food Inc….(have you heard of it)? I watched a bit of this documentary with my daughter…I could hardly watch how these animals are handled…made me pause for sure. And the way animals are treated before slaughter…there are no words.
I thought your post was right on the mark…and should always cause me to pause. Thank you for the reminder.
Blessings,
Connie
Yes, I’ve seen Food, Inc. Live changing! Blessings to you as well, Connie!
Well said. Growing up on a farm instilled a respect and thankfulness for life and the importance of recognizing the sacrifice for our needs. Thank you for sharing on Hearth & Soul Hop.
….. and thank you for hosting!
I really appreciate this post. I have been trying to decide whether I want to raise animals for food. But the research has also caused me to think about the process and whether I could actually kill something that I cared for and tended to.
Nourishment certainly has a cost, but I guess that is why we need to be all the more grateful for the food that we receive. That is the way the creator designed it. I have been trying to remember to thank God for the animal that was provided for my meals since I know that he cares for them too. The more I learn the more I am resolved to buy only humanely raised meat not only for health implications but also spiritual.
Well said, Jen. It’s good to struggle through these decisions and be thoughtful about them. And just so ya know, I appreciate your blog.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post and your stand for the Lord!! Thanks for this reminder!!
Thanks so much, Marci!