Soaking up the Rain for My Soul

Hebrews 6:7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful for those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

My reading this morning has caused me to consider my soul as the “soil” from which God’s grace is manifest on earth. My grandparents were farmers so I understand the need for rain. I understand that sunshine, rain, planting and harvest all take priority over plans and ideas. There were many times (still are many times) when the farmers in my family did not show up for an event because it was planting or harvest day. We all understand that; it’s the only way you can have a crop to share in the time of harvest. It’s harder to accept this with my soul.

With my soul this means accepting the days of tears with as much trust as I accept the days of celebration. I know the garden cannot grow without rain…but I have to remind myself that my tears have equal value to the moments of joy.

With my soul it means being patient in times of waiting so that everything has time to grow and mature as it needs to be. Yes, even when the waiting feels like a desert. Patience not only for myself, but for everyone else that is connected…because we’re all connected.

With my soul it means trusting that the long days of planting, weeding and tending will actually produce something that blesses in the end. There is some work involved in those activities. I wasn’t a big fan of weeding days in our family garden…which seemed like most days! And this part is not always graceful either. We often encountered a snake or two, and occasionally injured ourselves with our careless hoeing. I used to wonder why my parents found it necessary to have such a BIG garden! Limit the size, limit the weeds…right?

With my soul it means yielding to the plans of God’s bigger picture rather than what I want to see happen in one chapter of life. Every summer we would watch T.V. while we were breaking beans, shelling peas or shucking corn. This was normal…we did it every night during times of harvest. When I went to college I had never purchased a can of vegetables because we always had vegetables straight from the garden, freezer or from our own canning. It was then that I realized what it meant that we used that T.V. time to prepare for the days beyond what we could see. It is a little like yielding to God’s bigger picture even when the view is illusive.

What’s being offered to your soul today? Whatever it is – accept it and give thanks. For in due time, there is a harvest to come.

Prayer: Lord thank you for making it easy for us to see how you work in nature and how you work in our souls too. I love you. Amen.