Okay, maybe it is my country upbringing and my aim of being self-sufficient, but I can’t help but see meat when I look at some animals.  I have even caught my mouth watering when I am hungry and looking at a nice, fat steer or even one of the rabbits we raise for just such a purpose.  While this is probably not normal behavior, I can’t help but think there must be others like me who can appreciate the living qualities of an animal while anticipating the gifts they will bring when they are transformed into meat for the freezer.

I really appreciate the sacrifice animals make for us.  When you have taken the life of an animal to feed your family, it takes on a whole new meaning.  The disconnect many of us have from the source of our food makes it easier to chow down on meat without thinking of the consequences, but when you open your eyes to the life that once was, it makes you appreciate your food that much more.

Someone asked me in a comment recently if it is hard to take life.  Yes, it really is.  I hate that part of raising our own meat, but it gives me comfort to know that even though the end result is the same, the animals raised here on our farm live a life that is so much happier and healthier than the animals raised on factory farms.  When the end comes, there is no stress and no terror.  If you have ever watched a video of what goes on in commercial slaughter operations, it probably made your blood run cold.  Seeing images like those is part of what strengthens my resolve to raise my own animals for food.

So while I see delicious, life-giving meat when I look at my animals, I also see healthy and happy animals that live the best life I can give them during their time here with me.