“…we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9).

This summer, I was reminded that some of the biggest joys in life come in some of the smallest ways. For the past two or three years, I have tried to get a vegetable garden going in a little plot beside our house. It has really been a pathetic sight. Sprouts would look healthy and promising, even begin to bear fruit, only to wither and die. This year, I made that little plot more of a priority. Early in the spring, I added natural fertilizer to the soil and worked it in. I even started saving coffee grounds, because I heard they were good for a garden. One afternoon, after a morning of making fish prints with my students (using a real, previously frozen, fish), I buried the colorfully painted fish in my garden. When the seeds were planted, I took care to water them every day. Only someone who gardens can know the joy of seeing little sprouts come up for the first time. I found myself checking on them everyday, as if by watching them I could make them grow faster. Zealously, I removed weeds as they popped up to compete with the fledgling vegetables. Growth was slow at first, and then the plants virtually exploded with fruit. While most of it is still maturing at this stage, we did find the most beautiful cucumber! It was absolutely perfect (in our eyes!), and we started thinking of ways to enjoy it….maybe a cucumber sandwich, or a zingy cucumber salad….or maybe just savor it raw. But as we admired it, a better idea came to mind. Deciding we could honor God with our "firstfruits," we gave it to a neighbor who is a retired pastor, a faithful servant of God for decades. He's probably never been given a cucumber by a neighbor, and it made him smile. Hope he knows....that's not just any cucumber!

God uses the concept of gardening throughout His word. It is fitting that just after His resurrection, the women who went to the tomb mistook Jesus for a gardener. He is, in fact, the Master Gardener. He planted a garden in Eden, unparalled in beauty, where the tree of life grew. God commanded Adam to work the garden and take care of it, and I think He put a little desire to garden in each of us….although it has taken a long time for me to recognize it in myself. Working in the soil, planting flowers or vegetables, makes many Biblical analogies come alive. My experience with our little plot has drawn me to the parable of the four soils in Matthew 13. The farmer went out to sow his seed. Some fell along the path, and the birds ate it. Some fell on rocky places, and sprang up quickly but had no root and died in the heat of the sun. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked the plants. But, thankfully, some fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. I have learned the hard way how important it is to prepare the soil, so that when the seed is planted it can take root and grow. I’ve been thinking about this lesson in regard to ministry and mission work. Surely God is telling us how important it is to "prepare the soil" so that when He plants the seed of His word, it will take root and grow. "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord….” (Hosea 10:12). “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…” (Eph. 3:17). Love is the common denominator, the fertilizer you might say, that allows God’s seed to take root. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10). Love, expressed in good works, helps prepare the soil of hearts for God’s planting to take root. I could sow seeds in that little plot until the “cows come home,” but if I haven’t taken the time to get down on my knees and gently care for that soil, doing what I can to build it up, those seeds will likely never take root or produce lasting fruit.
God's garden is all around us....our children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, strangers. May God give us eyes to see the opportunities around us...we often don't need to look far. Some will have the opportunity to work in God's garden in faraway places...unlikely places, like a prison in Thailand, a remote village in Africa, and an orphanage in Romania. Wherever God puts us, may others see in us good works that will cause them to praise their Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16). May He use us to help nurture and prepare the soil of their hearts, by showering God’s love on them. The Master Gardner tells us, “whatever you do for one of the least of these….you do for me….” (Matt. 25:40).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener….this is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15). What greater joy for anyone than bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom! What greater joy for the Master Gardner than seeing His seed take root and bear fruit, transforming lives! I think I’ll go check on those cucumbers….

Family Bonding

Determined to spend some quality family time together, my daughter, Melissa, her husband, Ray, and their two small children (really small, Sean, two, and Lily Kate, barely one) piled into their van early Sunday morning with nearly all of their household goods (or so it seemed) packed in the back. I should mention that my daughter is seven months pregnant Her husband (who works for Nascar) had arrived home at around 3 am after a Saturday night race, and was operating on very little sleep. Add to that mix the fact that it was raining Sunday morning. But nothing dampened their spirits. Having the next day off, they were determined to give their children some quality family time in the mountains of Tennessee. And although the weather was wet and miserable at home, the forecast was for sunny skies at Cades Cove, the campground destination. Undeterred, they drove through rain for the entire five hour trip. When they arrived at the campground, the rain let up just long enough for Ray to put up the tent. The last stake was barely secure in the ground when a massive thunderstorm rolled in. They huddled together in their little tent. Sean, with eyes big as saucers as the thunder boomed, nestled himself in his dad’s arms, and Lily Kate snuggled close to her mom. At that moment, though exhausted, hungry and wet, Melissa and Ray knew there was no place they’d rather be.
We lived in Iowa for eight years, while our kids were growing up. Usually, every winter, there would be at least one blizzard that would leave us snowed in for three or four days. During those times, we would huddle together in front of the fire, pop some popcorn and watch a movie together (if we still had power!). And, truly, there was no place I’d rather have been. In the summer, thunderstorms would roll in and create a light (and sound!) show that could last for hours….we would sit close together on our front porch swing, marveling at the wonder of it all, and savoring the warmth of family togetherness. With no distractions, no place to go and nothing else we could do, the unexpected joy of just being together would envelop us. Often, it is the unexpected challenges of life that give us these opportunities. The same is true spiritually. So many things can appear threatening in the storms of life. But sometimes, when we set aside the distractions to savor relationship with our Creator, we can find ourselves enveloped with the peaceful presence of God. There is no greater comfort or security than having our Father’s arms wrapped around us …”the eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27). There is no place I’d rather be….