Time flies, whether we blink or not. It's been a busy few months - not with major accomplishments or huge dramas, just the day in and day out business of life. My youngest just finished 6th grade, with a great amount of confidence learned and applied, and faith tested and found to hold. She ventured to 6th grade camp - teary eyed and boxes of Kleenex emptied she boarded the bus. Glowing, dirty and calm she returned 5 days later. A lesson on God's faithfulness and love learned in the sweetness of friends and counselors.We planted seeds this spring. Seeds of fruits, of vegetables, trees blossomed and vines grew. We planted in hope. In expectation. We also planted in certainty that something fruitful, something good would return to us. We watered regularly, we watched out for predators and pests and dealt with them when they inevitably appeared. And now, we are seeing the fruit of our labors. Our trees are growing weighty with fruit. Our tomatoes are reddening on the vines. Our blackberries are ripening by the bunches and boysenberries eaten by the handfuls. I am ready to pick the first crop of nectarines from my tree, as the birds have proven the fruit is ripe.
There has been another type of harvest in my life, one in which I am most blessed and in awe. Seeds had been planted years ago in this precious one. Pests had been picked off this lovely plant with counsel and prayer. Weeds had been tended, sometimes in mumbles and sometimes in raging. Water was poured out over her, time and time again. I must admit that hope had grown dim. Then came that glorious day when the fruit had ripened and was ready to be harvested. She accepted Jesus as her savior on Mother's Day. Oh, how sweet! Hope deferred was hope received. The wonder of God's timing! It was such a great reminder to me to never give up. To persevere in prayer and to continue to water that seed until it grows. God's word never returns void!
What this summer will bring, the Lord knows. We have ideas of activities, thoughts of rest and play. I want to be useful. To redeem the time until the Lord returns, or takes me home. The harvest is plentiful, may I be useful to the Master of the harvest.
