I have friends that aren’t gardeners. Seriously…but I love them anyway – you know…in spite of it. After all, we
all have our shortcomings.

We had a hard winter. I can see the ground here and there, but in other places there is still a solid foot of snow. My heart is outside planting things but the ground is pure mud, or frozen. To make matters worse, we recently had to drive down south about 2 hours, and about 2,000 feet lower, and saw daffodils surrounding fruit trees laden with fragrant blossoms full of the promise of baskets of produce, ready to spill their juicy, sweet flavors into my mouth…ready to jump into the canning jars or be spread on toast in the morning.

Part of me wants to switch places with a friend in a nicer climate, but I don’t know of anyone who would volunteer, and forced relocation seems harsh. I want spring, and I want it now!

My husband is getting used to walking around all the plants I have started that are sitting in different places in the kitchen, living room, and study. But, my dog thinks I’m nuts! She stares at the little cups in rows (well, kind of in rows) here and there, then looks at me quizzically, then goes back to napping. She’s an old, faithful sort so no chewing of the plants has scarred my soul.

I am stuck between verses. You know the ones.

Ecc. 3:2b – …a time to plant and a time to uproot…

Prov. 6:6 – go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

Ecc. 7:8 – The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride…

Prov. 20:4 – Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing…

It’s almost time…my engine is running, using up gas, but warm and ready to race. The sunshine is working hard, and promising results if I will only be patient.

As I stare at all the little cups of tender babies, I go back and forth between wondering if I have started them soon enough, or started them too soon. Am I doing the right thing? South facing window…check. Well drained soil…check. Turn them so they don’t lean over and get all scrunchy on one side…check.

But what about storms, or weak seedlings, or just plain old bad seasons? I can prepare; I can study, I can work hard, and all that is great. If I didn’t do those things, a bad harvest would be guaranteed. But, there’s no guarantee that these little cups of promises will actually deliver, either. Things just go wrong no matter how hard you try.

Maybe you have a young dog that eats your garden before you can even get your slippers on. There are birds, and squirrels, voles and gophers, and some people like cats and let them live in their houses so they might get out and wander in and mess up your crop. Tornadoes, what about tornadoes?!?!

Yes, it’s my job to hoe, to plant, to water, and to sew in good soil, but then I just have to wait and have faith. Watch and prepare, but not hover and worry. Then, it’s my job to absorb the fragrance of roses, or munch on perky, sweet snap peas as I wander around the garden, surveying the miracles that have popped up in my yard.

And maybe send a vole to see its maker.

Psalm 62:5 -Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in The LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Blessings!
Leaona Huston
April 7, 2021