I have noticed over the years (this was our 5th year of gardening!) that my attitude about the garden is more relaxed. If something doesn’t make it, I’m a bit sad, but shrug my shoulders and think, “Oh, well…”. Tim and I have an acronym we say, OWIIWII. We pronounce it, Oh-wee-wee. It stands for, “Oh Well, It Is What It Is.” Some years are better than others, some vegetables do better than others in different years.
There’s more of a letting go on my part, more peace about what grows and what doesn’t. There is more trust in God, that I will have what I need, and if I don’t have it I must not need it. We just take what we get and appreciate what we have. Learning this in the garden transfers to the bigger issues in life as well.
It certainly is amazing to watch things grow from such small seeds. I keep thinking about the parables of Jesus, when he talked about seeds, soil and gardens. Here’s one:
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.'” (Mat 13:31-32)
It is so amazing to see these little, tiny seeds and watch them sprout and grow into such huge plants that make more seeds, which make more plants….. It is like God’s Kingdom. He does the planting and watering in it, and as we cooperate with Him (obey Him), the Kingdom grows and grows as He desires. There is peace in knowing that He really is the “vinedresser” with all His wisdom, carefully tending and watching everything work together for His purpose. He cares about us and His world much more than we do. We continually look forward to see what all He does with His Kingdom all around us.
If you’re interested in more of our thoughts about His Kingdom, please go to our website, Listen To Him.