Enough
The ole garden didn't fare so well this year.
For oh so many reasons. The mechanical tiller started out all moody and eventually went on strike altogether. The human tiller (me) started out admirably and then discouragement set in as she couldn't see the forest for the trees. Or weeds, in this case. And we'll go through the obligatory blaming of the jiggly groundhog and omnipresent rabbits, one of whom I had the privilege of stinging with a half-dozen bbs, to the delight of my boys. Turns out Mama's a decent shot.
But really, it boils down to one thing.
We didn't turn the soil over this past winter.
As I recall, a little over a year ago I was bragging shamelessly about what perfect gardeners we had become, carrying five-gallon bucketfuls of veggies into the house and attempting to squeeze multitudes of beautifully sealed mason jars into my canning cabinet.
Overconfidence. She'll bite you right in the rear.
No, we fully ignored the garden spot all through the winter. And we paid for it dearly. For here is what our garden looks like.
And this is what is has looked like since the end of July, when our mutual disgust drove us to toss the grenade and plow it all up.
Oh, the plans for next year. At the very least, they involve moving part of the planting land and downing a way-too-shady tree. And turning over the soil. For real, y'all. Turning. It. Over. We'll see what happens.
Despite our shameful disappointment in growing season this year, I must say this: God gave us enough.
We ate several mouthwatering meals straight from the vines throughout the summer. Our early abundance of zucchini and squash allowed for testing of new recipes that were quickly thrown into regular rotation. I have three, countem three, pint-size bags of blackeyed peas in the freezer to enjoy all on my own this winter.
We had enough.
Not only that, well over half of last year's beautifully sealed mason jars are still in that cabinet, and the freezer is still half-full of last year's corn.
We have enough.
And in all of this, our Provider continues to prove Himself faithful in taking care of us. Giving us not necessarily what we want, but what we need.
Veggies and nourishment. A dose of humility and hope in mercies new with the morning. Forgiveness and peace and joy. A life overflowing with love and laughter and brokenness and tears, change and growing pains and uncertainty, beauty and those tiny little moments that take your breath away.
Salvation, forgiveness, and freedom. Blessings beyond measure from the God who is love.
He is enough.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
For oh so many reasons. The mechanical tiller started out all moody and eventually went on strike altogether. The human tiller (me) started out admirably and then discouragement set in as she couldn't see the forest for the trees. Or weeds, in this case. And we'll go through the obligatory blaming of the jiggly groundhog and omnipresent rabbits, one of whom I had the privilege of stinging with a half-dozen bbs, to the delight of my boys. Turns out Mama's a decent shot.
But really, it boils down to one thing.
We didn't turn the soil over this past winter.
As I recall, a little over a year ago I was bragging shamelessly about what perfect gardeners we had become, carrying five-gallon bucketfuls of veggies into the house and attempting to squeeze multitudes of beautifully sealed mason jars into my canning cabinet.
Overconfidence. She'll bite you right in the rear.
No, we fully ignored the garden spot all through the winter. And we paid for it dearly. For here is what our garden looks like.
And this is what is has looked like since the end of July, when our mutual disgust drove us to toss the grenade and plow it all up.
Oh, the plans for next year. At the very least, they involve moving part of the planting land and downing a way-too-shady tree. And turning over the soil. For real, y'all. Turning. It. Over. We'll see what happens.
Despite our shameful disappointment in growing season this year, I must say this: God gave us enough.
We ate several mouthwatering meals straight from the vines throughout the summer. Our early abundance of zucchini and squash allowed for testing of new recipes that were quickly thrown into regular rotation. I have three, countem three, pint-size bags of blackeyed peas in the freezer to enjoy all on my own this winter.
We had enough.
Not only that, well over half of last year's beautifully sealed mason jars are still in that cabinet, and the freezer is still half-full of last year's corn.
We have enough.
And in all of this, our Provider continues to prove Himself faithful in taking care of us. Giving us not necessarily what we want, but what we need.
Veggies and nourishment. A dose of humility and hope in mercies new with the morning. Forgiveness and peace and joy. A life overflowing with love and laughter and brokenness and tears, change and growing pains and uncertainty, beauty and those tiny little moments that take your breath away.
Salvation, forgiveness, and freedom. Blessings beyond measure from the God who is love.
He is enough.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
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