This past spring my husband began tilling and preparing our backyard to plant a garden. This year's garden is bigger than last year and he added a second section. The preparing of the soil took longer than I expected. First he had to research what tool would be best to use (last year he did it by hand with a hoe and I sooooo feel for pioneers!), then he purchased it and finally started using it. He had to get the hang of it - it was lighter and faster than he expected at first - but once he got the hang of it he was on his way - and having a great time - and he even let our (just turned) six year old operate it, too.
So - then came the planting, weeding, putting up posts (to keep our dog from trampling through), and chicken wire for the veggies to climb on, watering, fertilizing, etc.
FINALLY we started seeing sprouts. To say my husband was excited is small. He was thrilled - everyday he would come in and change and go outside to work in the garden.
I will admit that a lot of days I resented it because I didn't appreciate the time it took - weeding, watering, fertilizing, admiring small, tiny, (looking a lot like weeds) sprouts that he was taking such care of. He loved it though and I begrudgingly adjusted my expectations.
He offered many days for me to go outside and help him weed or work when I mentioned how much time he spent out there. I didn't ever take him up on it. WEEDING? REALLY? Get bug bitten? hot? and dirty for some sprouts that I thought looked a lot like weeds? No thanks.
By June we had tall tomato plants, corn stalks, beans climbing, watermelon vines reaching, and squash and cucumbers growing. I was amazed, but still not as impressed as him. Then we had torrential storms - they flattened everything except the tomatoes. After two days of rain we had a break and he went out and tried to stand everything back up. I did support this because it meant so much to him - he spent many hours weeding, posting, tying, and shoring up. That night another storm - the next day - he stood the corn up again - then that night a storm that had hail and wind and really bad rain. He basically said to me that he wasn't standing it all up again - if it didn't recover - so be it. I stood at the window that night and prayed that God would spare our garden. Why? Because my husband had put so much into them both and with everything going on at his job I really didn't want to see him so defeated.
The next morning with the sun brought the show of damage done. Two trees fell - our roof was damaged and the yard was a horrible mess with leaves, limbs and debris. The power had also gone out during this particular storm. But, WOW! How awesome is my God?
The tree in the backyard fell JUST TO THE RIGHT of the garden! Coincidence? No. God spared our garden. The tree in the front yard fell where we normally park, but the van wasn't there so no damage was done - again - God knew back in March that this storm was headed our way - so He guided us then to have it be in a lot for sale at a different location.
I tell you all this for two reasons - as I have come to appreciate the garden (if not the work), I have also started taking an active part with my husband in the care of it - although he does the lion's share. I see the garden in my yard as so much like my spiritual life. How?
Well, in the spring, personal storms began brewing (God preparing my soil) - then my grandfather, who had such a powerful influence on my spiritual life and foundation, got sick all of a sudden and died after a month with cancer. I was blessed with being able to go and help my mom, aunt and uncle on the weekends stay with him and care for him - in the middle of that - my mom fell at his house and fractured her shoulder - could not even dress herself, bathe herself, make her own food, or drive. I had the opportunity to serve my mom in the most elemental of ways during that 5 weeks. She is home now and I have stayed only one weekend because of all the other personal stuff that has come up - but God provided my sister in law and brother to be there to help care for her at her home (which is where she wanted to be).
So, during that time I was able to really reflect on my personal legacy - what trail am I leaving behind? What do my children and husband see?
My grandfather was given the gift of evangelism. Even dying of cancer he asked nurses and hospice workers if they knew Jesus and where they were attending church. He was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. His neighbors came to share all there interactions with him - visit with him and thank him. He cared for the widows around him and always looked out for them. He took initiative in his neighborhood, church, family, and community - even when it wasn't always welcome. In 2007 when I was able to spend one on one time with him in the hospital, he told me then to start reading Ezekiel - the end was drawing near. He told me to make sure my relationship with Christ was on track - and encouraged me to share Him with others - Granddaddy also took the time to remind me that he prayed daily, by name, for each member of my family - and me. I cherish that. I know his prayers made a difference in my life.
So, in this season of God "tilling" my heart's soil, planting His seeds (bringing events into my life that I could grow through or not allow to root) providing fertilizer (relationships with others, His word, church, music, etc) if I chose to partake of it, providing water (His word - and sometimes storms), to help these fledgling seeds take root and grow. But, the weeding is just as vital - and can be painful - the tearing out of bad habits, destructive ways or thoughts, past hurts, etc - to allow room for the new growth. Then - more rain, fertilizer, and weeding as the growth continues. Now the sprouts are big - reaching constantly toward the SON - the flowers open wide to allow the necessary "bug" in - that exact thing needed to fertilize and spur on naturally - specifically designed for me and my "flower". But the enemy has plans, too. The enemy is a master manipulator and liar - takes what is meant for good and can pervert it - if we don't get rid of those things in our life garden, then it can drown us (if we don't have good drainage), eat us (if we allow the wrong 'bugs' into our flower), or burn us (if we plant ourselves in the wrong part of the yard with too much or too little sun).
So, daily tending is needed. Plans are needed. Preparation is needed. Help is needed.
We are not islands unto ourselves. God designed us to have help weeding our gardens as needed. Help to spur us on, to taking in the fertilizer and water, and tempering both - knowing when to keep certain bugs, and when to demolish the others.
When we do these things the 'fruit' born of our toil, labor, and weeding pain - is so very, very good - and abundant enough to share with others!
If we focus only on the pain of the problem we are in - we have the potential to become stagnant, drown, or eaten alive. Instead, I ask you to consider keeping your blooms open to the SON, and your tendrils reaching constantly for new ground to grow in - led by His hand- through the fertilizing and weeding and watering of our time with Him, with friends striving toward Him also, and through praise of our Father.
I now so much more appreciate my garden. Thank you, Abba.
