I feel closer to God, hands in tilled soil, dirt under fingernails, breeze on my face, sun warmth on my back. This is where I came from.
Born in a garden. One word away from dirt. My soul knows, peaking into the past, a glimpse into His character.
I walk by the vines, grapes will appear soon. Parallels to Red Word stories could easily come to mind.
This morning, I keep walking. My mind on my list of need-to’s, have-to’s, hoping to be clear soon.
Thoughts of the Creation Day creep in. Walking in the cool of the day with Him.
What would that be like?
Is it like this day?
Growing. The plants are growing. God’s mercies in the tender leaves and dark mud.
It all started in the garden. God likes to plant and grow things. Squash. Spinach. Me.
His tools look different than mine. As image-bearer, I’m glad to partake. Focused on weed pulling, a rhythm occurs. Shoulders come down, I start to breathe for the first time this week.
Thought appears – to share this bounty with neighbors. Spinach is ready and more than enough for three households. Making a first pass to clear weeds, I feel proud. Task completed. Harvest time.
I squat, low to the ground. I breathe living air on edible leaves.
Near – the only way to harvest fruit. Cupped in my hands, I pluck a small crop. Gentle.
Prayerful, God be my Soul Gardner.
Then, a large weed, gone unnoticed, camouflaged by the fruit – appears. My eyes had missed this intruder the first pass. My sight isn’t always true.
The fruit no longer hid the weed. I pause in awe. My life is the same. Holy Spirit-produced fruit in me but not perfection yet. Weeding, pruning, and fruit harvesting – never one without the others.
No more choking out growth, I extract the intruder. Revelation to my mind.
Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the Gardener. . . He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. . .Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. . . My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.” – John 15:1-8
God is close, My Soul Gardener, pruning and weeding, especially when I’m producing fruit.
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Praise Him that He prunes us and allows us to produce more fruit for HIS GLORY! Thank you!
Wow! What fabulous imagery. A window to the heart of God. Thank you.
The imagery of God as gardner is one of my favorites… beautiful post 🙂 beautiful scriptural representation 🙂
Love watching how He gardens in your life Steph. We have ALL reaped beautiful fruit from what you and He grew together! Love you!
Stephanie, you have no idea how much I needed to read this today. This has blessed me tremendously!
And can I just say you are a word choreographer? They dance and show beauty like your garden…I feel like I was right there in the dirt with you.
Have a great day!
Oh this: “My sight isn’t always true.”
That one line has been ringing me all day, Stephanie…
God’s cultivating the truest beauty in you. And you give us eyes to see His beauty everywhere — when our sight fails.
Keep on soaring, Stephanie! Every garden needs wings!
All’s grace,
Ann
What a beautiful analogy for the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives. I’m in the process of planning a garden. I don’t have much of a green thumb, I’m hoping it’ll get greener. Thankfully, our Lord’s thumb is as green as they come!
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