Gardening is food for the soul. Preparing the soil, planting the seeds, weeding out what doesn’t belong and nurturing what does until it’s time to harvest. There’s satisfaction in working hard to grow your own food. Before leaving home, I loved working in my vegetable garden.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
On the race, I’ve learned that it’s ok to miss things from home. There is sacrifice when you give up your current life to spread the love of Jesus to the nations but that doesn’t mean you sever all ties and shut off your emotions. God created us all with different passions that we sometimes have to put on hold for the sake of the kingdom. Some days it hurts more than others. This spring for a period of time I was really missing my garden. I love the work and the reward. I love taking my nephews out and letting them “help” me in the garden. I love watching each plant grow. I love the harvest. I love sharing the abundance with friends and family.
“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’.” Luke 10:2
God knows each one of us intimately. He knows our passions and desires. He knows the things that will make us smile that no one else would understand. Today, He chose to bless me by giving me the opportunity to garden. My team was working to help clean up a property where a community center will be built. We raked cut grass and weeds into piles that will later be burned. Then came time to dig some holes. I think he said it as a joke, but I didn’t hesitate to volunteer when our ministry partner asked who wanted to dig. I literally answered “I love digging holes” and I meant it. After he measured out the placement, I went all country girl with the shovel. Later on, my teammate Julie joined in on the fun, and we created homes for eight baby trees. It seems so crazy to say, but digging holes was my blessing today. The Lord knows and loves me so well.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34
