By Susan Berry
Seasons & Waiting
Acts 14:17
“Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
Romans 8:24-25
“ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
Winter is not an easy season for one whose heart resides in the garden. Even after twenty two years of growing many gardens, I struggle to wait for Spring and the hope it holds.
I long for the aroma of warm soil, of seeing a tiny seed push from beneath the soil and peek through with green leaves full of life and hope.
Seasons in life are the same as seasons in nature. Change, abundance, loss, sorrow, hope, joy. We walk through the season’s waiting, trusting and hoping that God’s love and faithfulness will bring the fulfillment of the season.
January, for gardeners and farmers is a time of planning, reflecting and preparation. For me, it is when I wait with anticipation for the new year’s seed catalogs to arrive. Each day I run to the mailbox hoping to find a treasure of new seeds.
As we are sometimes encouraged by our Pastors’ messages in January to reflect on the past year and how we could improve our personal walk with the Lord. We learn and hope as we reflect that the coming year will bring personal growth.
Winter is also when gardeners plan their new gardens for the coming Spring. We journal and draw and rotate our beds so that our new crops will flourish and be bountiful.
Our life journals can have the same design and plan for us. We endeavor to remove what weeds may have crept in last season. We look to the positive growth and plan to nurture and feed those areas even more.
As I press on through the short dark cold days of Winter I hold to hope and God’s plan for my life. Knowing He has all the perfect seeds and will hold them for me until it is the perfect time to sow them.
Food of the word and gladness of our salvation. Our joy and sustenance through the Winters of our life.
I am so blessed to be a part of EncouragingU. As a follower of Jesus Christ and a Horticulturist I hope to share my journey with you by sharing the teachings God has spoken to my heart as I go to the garden with Him. I love to encourage others to venture into gardening and benefit from growing their own food. Our bodies are the temple for God’s glory and eating healthy is one way to glorify Him. I can be reached at figandhoney878@gmail.com.
God Bless,
Susan Berry
