Thursday, September 16, 2010
God and Gardening
Some of you know me well and that means you are acquainted with my fruit tree addiction. I enjoy gardening in general but more specifically, I love my fruit trees and vines. Some of you vehemently hate the great outdoors; the dirt, thorns, and sunshine drive you nuts. So, you might zone out and dismiss what lies ahead. But, stick around and you'll see that there's something here for you as well.
For me, gardening is my peaceful place. I love to water my trees, to look for new blossoms, or to discover a new piece of fruit. I can even tell when one of my trees has grown by just one inch. I can see this clearly on my newer avocado tree. The new growth is smooth and light green, as it optimistically shoots up toward the sun. It's so exciting! And I'm a total nerd when it comes to gifts. Guess what I asked for this past Mother's Day? My Pixie tangerine tree, of course. :)
If you see me out watering, you might even catch me talking to one of my trees or laying hands on a struggling tree or grape-vine. I mean, if God cares about what I care about, then I figure He can heal one of my trees or vines as well. Just recently, I finally noticed some growth on one of my fussy grape-vines. He'd been so stubborn, refusing to grow a single leaf after months and months of watering. But, finally...one has popped out to say hello. And I can't wait to plant six more bare root cousins of his over the next few weeks. :)
Yet frequently, as I'm out taking care of my fourteen fruit trees and my plethora of vines, I feel like they're not producing much. Although the trees have tons of leaves, I still wonder if all of my efforts will ever pay off. I ponder, "When will I see some fruit?" But, then I gaze at my navel orange, mandarin-orange, Mexican lime, peach, plum, Delicious apple, green olive, tangerine, cherry, Haas avocado, apricot, pear-apple, and the two lemon trees. I love and know my trees because they are mine.
I breathe in the fragrance of their blossoms and then I feel like it's all worth it. After a couple of years, I see some of my citrus trees full of fruit and it reminds me that I'll see new fruit on the others as well...in due time. I think back to the one apple that my son and I enjoyed earlier this season. It was small, lonely, and picked a little bit too early, but super tasty and rewarding. It was ours...the one that we'd worked so hard to harvest.
As I think about each one of my trees and vines, I just have to picture my garden and think through where each one stands. Then, I can remember what each one looks like. I can visualize which one has yellowing leaves and needs less or more water than another. I can recall the joy I had this past week as my pear-apple finally evidenced some early fall blossoms. The fruit is FINALLY on its way after twenty months of chill-hours (I've prayed over this specific tree numerous times). YEAH!!!
Earlier today, when I dropped off all three of my kids at school, I felt a sense of relief, but it wasn't joyful, like the pear-apple. I felt more like my cherry tree that starts to look like it's gonna produce hundreds of cherries but then fizzles out and says, "No, I need more chill hours, ha-ha! The joke's on you." :(
This morning was chaotic, so I felt ecstatic to have some time to myself, to think, to text a few people...a few minutes just to pray and to shed a few tired tears. Some weeks are overwhelming. You know that your job as a mom is worth all of the effort, but if you're honest, you wonder when you're gonna see the fruit in your own kids' lives. Frequently, it's hard to focus on the hugs and kisses amidst the whining, arguing, demanding... the messes, and the meltdowns.
After drop-off, I took a few deep breaths, shared some honest thoughts with God about who I wish I was but am not...about some dreams that never seem to go anywhere...about the frustrated feelings I've had about my kids lately. Even now, I sigh as I think through how hard marriage can be... how it requires so much effort to have a vibrant one, to have one that promises to hit a GOLDEN anniversary someday. Because I want our relationship to be better than just ok or good. :)
And I've thought about how God cares about me and my family so much more than I care about my mini-grove of fruit trees. He wants to water us, to prune us, and to bear fruit in our lives as well. He created us with specific needs and passions. Some of us need more sunshine or water than others. Some of us are more emotional and take longer to blossom and to bear fruit. But, guess what? We serve a patient and loving Heavenly Father. He cares! And He knows...everything about you and me.
When I feel like He doesn't see my needs or my dreams, I just need to look out at my trees and see how He allows them to grow so obediently and so patiently. It reminds me of the work He's doing in my heart and in my husband's and kids' lives as well. Thankfully, trees don't question God asking, "But why me, God? Why not sooner?" They just grow their roots deeper during a drought. They drink in the water and sunshine when the resources are available. They drop their leaves during the right season as well.
The thing that's hard about trusting God to keep His end of the bargain is to believe that He's shaping us during those long months when we can't see any fruit at all. With my trees and vines, it sometimes feels like I'm investing in them for nothing, like they're conspiring against me. So many of them are just weak sticks staring up at me... snickering... laughing. Others are more advanced... with vibrant green leaves but no fruit for months or even years, depending on the type of tree.
But, below the surface, the roots dig deep beneath the earth. They look for water in dark and unseen places. They prepare the way for the coming fruit. And that's how God works in us as well. He allows certain financial, professional, personal, and emotional struggles into our lives so that our roots grow deeper as well. He's asking you and me, "Will you trust me even when you can't see the fruit... even when there's no rain or sunshine for a long time?"
My answer is usually this: "Yes God, I'll trust you, but I'm not gonna be happy about it." I generally possess a less than totally joyful attitude about the obedience I know I must comply with. I complain to God each time I don't get my way or when God doesn't answer my prayers according to my time-line.
Can you imagine my fruit trees answering back to me with such cynicism? "Yes, we'll promise to grow, crazy lady that talks to us, but we won't be happy about it." As if my vines would retort, "Sure, we'll bear fruit, but we'll be grumpy during all the long hot months before that happens."
So, here's what God wants. He desires us to see ourselves like my fruit trees and vines. He doesn't want us to whine or gripe, though He is patient to listen when we are sad. Our loving Father wants us to do what we were created to do: to worship Him no matter what else is going on. He wishes for us to allow Him to water us with His Word and His Spirit so that we can grow spiritually.
God desires us to dig our roots down deep, especially during hard times...to find the water that truly quenches our souls. He longs for us to wait for His appointed time for the fruit that He promises. He wants to remind us that He won't give up on us...that He's not done with us yet. Philippians 1:6 says, "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a woman remains in me and I in her, she will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do NOTHING." So, remember this: you have to set aside some time to be in God's presence. You can do that in the car, while you shower, during your workout at the gym, or even while you're using the bathroom (that's where I keep my devotional book...just keeping it real). :)
It doesn't matter where you sit or stand while you pray and read His Word. Your prayers don't have to be fancy or long. You don't have to read the Bible for hours at a time; try starting with five minutes a day. You can whisper, scream, or simply pray silently in your head. As it happens, I love to spend time with the Lord while I'm outside caring for my trees and vines. It reminds me of how He takes care of me, even when I'm impatient, irritable, and dubious.
God is the Master Gardener, so remember to rest in His care! I'll try to do the same. Share some of your favorite gardening stories or some thoughts about what God's been doing in your life. We'd love to hear from you. :)
For me, gardening is my peaceful place. I love to water my trees, to look for new blossoms, or to discover a new piece of fruit. I can even tell when one of my trees has grown by just one inch. I can see this clearly on my newer avocado tree. The new growth is smooth and light green, as it optimistically shoots up toward the sun. It's so exciting! And I'm a total nerd when it comes to gifts. Guess what I asked for this past Mother's Day? My Pixie tangerine tree, of course. :)
If you see me out watering, you might even catch me talking to one of my trees or laying hands on a struggling tree or grape-vine. I mean, if God cares about what I care about, then I figure He can heal one of my trees or vines as well. Just recently, I finally noticed some growth on one of my fussy grape-vines. He'd been so stubborn, refusing to grow a single leaf after months and months of watering. But, finally...one has popped out to say hello. And I can't wait to plant six more bare root cousins of his over the next few weeks. :)
Yet frequently, as I'm out taking care of my fourteen fruit trees and my plethora of vines, I feel like they're not producing much. Although the trees have tons of leaves, I still wonder if all of my efforts will ever pay off. I ponder, "When will I see some fruit?" But, then I gaze at my navel orange, mandarin-orange, Mexican lime, peach, plum, Delicious apple, green olive, tangerine, cherry, Haas avocado, apricot, pear-apple, and the two lemon trees. I love and know my trees because they are mine.
I breathe in the fragrance of their blossoms and then I feel like it's all worth it. After a couple of years, I see some of my citrus trees full of fruit and it reminds me that I'll see new fruit on the others as well...in due time. I think back to the one apple that my son and I enjoyed earlier this season. It was small, lonely, and picked a little bit too early, but super tasty and rewarding. It was ours...the one that we'd worked so hard to harvest.
As I think about each one of my trees and vines, I just have to picture my garden and think through where each one stands. Then, I can remember what each one looks like. I can visualize which one has yellowing leaves and needs less or more water than another. I can recall the joy I had this past week as my pear-apple finally evidenced some early fall blossoms. The fruit is FINALLY on its way after twenty months of chill-hours (I've prayed over this specific tree numerous times). YEAH!!!
Earlier today, when I dropped off all three of my kids at school, I felt a sense of relief, but it wasn't joyful, like the pear-apple. I felt more like my cherry tree that starts to look like it's gonna produce hundreds of cherries but then fizzles out and says, "No, I need more chill hours, ha-ha! The joke's on you." :(
This morning was chaotic, so I felt ecstatic to have some time to myself, to think, to text a few people...a few minutes just to pray and to shed a few tired tears. Some weeks are overwhelming. You know that your job as a mom is worth all of the effort, but if you're honest, you wonder when you're gonna see the fruit in your own kids' lives. Frequently, it's hard to focus on the hugs and kisses amidst the whining, arguing, demanding... the messes, and the meltdowns.
After drop-off, I took a few deep breaths, shared some honest thoughts with God about who I wish I was but am not...about some dreams that never seem to go anywhere...about the frustrated feelings I've had about my kids lately. Even now, I sigh as I think through how hard marriage can be... how it requires so much effort to have a vibrant one, to have one that promises to hit a GOLDEN anniversary someday. Because I want our relationship to be better than just ok or good. :)
And I've thought about how God cares about me and my family so much more than I care about my mini-grove of fruit trees. He wants to water us, to prune us, and to bear fruit in our lives as well. He created us with specific needs and passions. Some of us need more sunshine or water than others. Some of us are more emotional and take longer to blossom and to bear fruit. But, guess what? We serve a patient and loving Heavenly Father. He cares! And He knows...everything about you and me.
When I feel like He doesn't see my needs or my dreams, I just need to look out at my trees and see how He allows them to grow so obediently and so patiently. It reminds me of the work He's doing in my heart and in my husband's and kids' lives as well. Thankfully, trees don't question God asking, "But why me, God? Why not sooner?" They just grow their roots deeper during a drought. They drink in the water and sunshine when the resources are available. They drop their leaves during the right season as well.
The thing that's hard about trusting God to keep His end of the bargain is to believe that He's shaping us during those long months when we can't see any fruit at all. With my trees and vines, it sometimes feels like I'm investing in them for nothing, like they're conspiring against me. So many of them are just weak sticks staring up at me... snickering... laughing. Others are more advanced... with vibrant green leaves but no fruit for months or even years, depending on the type of tree.
But, below the surface, the roots dig deep beneath the earth. They look for water in dark and unseen places. They prepare the way for the coming fruit. And that's how God works in us as well. He allows certain financial, professional, personal, and emotional struggles into our lives so that our roots grow deeper as well. He's asking you and me, "Will you trust me even when you can't see the fruit... even when there's no rain or sunshine for a long time?"
My answer is usually this: "Yes God, I'll trust you, but I'm not gonna be happy about it." I generally possess a less than totally joyful attitude about the obedience I know I must comply with. I complain to God each time I don't get my way or when God doesn't answer my prayers according to my time-line.
Can you imagine my fruit trees answering back to me with such cynicism? "Yes, we'll promise to grow, crazy lady that talks to us, but we won't be happy about it." As if my vines would retort, "Sure, we'll bear fruit, but we'll be grumpy during all the long hot months before that happens."
So, here's what God wants. He desires us to see ourselves like my fruit trees and vines. He doesn't want us to whine or gripe, though He is patient to listen when we are sad. Our loving Father wants us to do what we were created to do: to worship Him no matter what else is going on. He wishes for us to allow Him to water us with His Word and His Spirit so that we can grow spiritually.
God desires us to dig our roots down deep, especially during hard times...to find the water that truly quenches our souls. He longs for us to wait for His appointed time for the fruit that He promises. He wants to remind us that He won't give up on us...that He's not done with us yet. Philippians 1:6 says, "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a woman remains in me and I in her, she will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do NOTHING." So, remember this: you have to set aside some time to be in God's presence. You can do that in the car, while you shower, during your workout at the gym, or even while you're using the bathroom (that's where I keep my devotional book...just keeping it real). :)
It doesn't matter where you sit or stand while you pray and read His Word. Your prayers don't have to be fancy or long. You don't have to read the Bible for hours at a time; try starting with five minutes a day. You can whisper, scream, or simply pray silently in your head. As it happens, I love to spend time with the Lord while I'm outside caring for my trees and vines. It reminds me of how He takes care of me, even when I'm impatient, irritable, and dubious.
God is the Master Gardener, so remember to rest in His care! I'll try to do the same. Share some of your favorite gardening stories or some thoughts about what God's been doing in your life. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Labels: Christianity, faith, gardening, God
