Sowing and Harvesting

 



I happened across an old familiar parable the other day.

It’s the one about seeds and the different kinds of soil it falls into when it’s sown. It shows up in three of the four Gospels. 

You know how it goes.  There was a farmer, and he broadcast some seeds.  Some fell on good soil, some on rocky, some on bad.  Some sprouted and grew, but with lack of water and nourishment they were soon taken out.  

After this morning, I would like to add my own “Australian version” of that parable.  ALL of my beautiful little green tomatoes, showing so much potential for harvest, were just getting ready to turn a nice rich red when something, most likely a possum, came under the cloak of darkness and wiped out my entire crop. 

To say I was angry is an understatement. It’s not just the tomatoes; it’s the injustice! I bought the seedlings. I prepared the pots. I watered faithfully every morning. It’s just not fair! 

And the rage doesn’t stop at the garden (and I think I’ve inadvertently fallen on the real culprit here). As we live here in this beautiful country, I can’t help but think of all the time I’ve spent “sowing seeds”. I have a Christian fish sticker on my car. I made up some clever calling cards with our faith clearly displayed on them. I do my best every week to try and say something worthwhile in this blog. I even ordered up a cover for my new phone that has a Bible verse on it. Everywhere I look around me, I can see me screaming, “I’m a Christian! Does anybody care?” 

In looking back over the years, I think of all the seeds Tony and I have thrown out there. Most were eaten up by the crows and possums of life, some withered and faded … the list is long and well, sad. But then, before I allow myself a well-deserved pity party, something, or Someone speaks straight to my heart and asks the simple question: “What about the happy endings?”  

When I want to sit on my lip and insist that there are none, I only have to look around. That blog I mentioned is chock full of “happy ending” stories; that’s why I love writing about them. Now I’m taking a deep breath and saying, “Why haven’t I kept a journal all these years?” But then the blogs themselves are testimonies that some of those seeds did fall on good soil. And now in our sunset years, we’re seeing second and third generation crops.

You can look with me, if you like. Go to https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/5469143361910539568 

The record goes back to 2008. Not that long, when you think about it, but long enough for the message to come thru loud and clear, best said in 1 Corinthians 9:10,

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness”

And so we will continue flinging those seeds and looking forward to the harvest. 

….. Especially today. this is my Daughter-in-Love’s birthday.  Some years ago, this little ‘seed’ was born and bloomed into a beautiful rose that blesses any and everything that crosses her path. God knew what He was doing when He brought her into our lives. Happy Birthday, Kylie.

Marsha


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