Lessons from My Garden

Two or three weeks after planting seeds in our vegetable patch, this portion from James was running through my mind: "See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains." I think this passage is talking about waiting on God in suffering, but it has likely kept me from up-earthing things. If God uses farmers as an example of patience, then I should be patient (not that I have any claim to be a farmer)!

I am not very patient. I want my garden to look like a garden, like my neighbor's garden, which was started with young plants. My garden looks like a patch of dirt. Yet, if you squint and look very closely, you might see what could be a tiny carrot or tomato plant (or is it something else?)

In my impatience I'm tempted to figure it out somehow--pull up what I think are little grass stems around it--which might damage the little sprouts, if they are ones. Growing a garden takes longer than I thought!

A few more verses on patience:

Romans 2:4 "Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

Colossians 3:12 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience"

How grateful I am that God is patient with me, that He continues to teach me, even when my own spiritual growth is slow. How convicted I am of my lack of impatience with others, the tendency to tear them down, instead of pray and encourage and "water" and wait.


From a distance my garden looks barren, but up close where the gardener can see, there are signs of new life!