Spring. Fresh rain falling on soft ground, life sprouting, cool breeze, all is beautiful and new.
A mother holds her fresh baby, life bursting forth from her own body. Was there ever anything more beautiful and new?
Tender shoots that need tender care, watering, hoeing, weeding, protecting from hungry animals, the constant watch of a careful gardener. Bone tired, satisfied.
A mother soothes, listens, watches, nurses, protects, and pulls a thousand “weeds” a day–tending carefully the souls of her tender children. Weary, thankful, full.
Sun overhead scorching, bugs, weeds overtaking, back breaking, this crop so slowly growing–what if he just left it? Others can tend the harvest, better machines, mass production, harvest without so much work.
A mother slumps to the floor, sobs hard, weary, desperate heart. Is it worth it? The day is long, it seems like too much work and at the end, can she tell? Can anyone?
Early morning, damp dew, a bloom, a fruiting vine, the work of his tired hands and he forgets the ache in his back. Plump, ripening, beautiful harvest. A smile breaks across his stained face.
A mother wakes, folded paper on the bedside table. “Mom, thank you for showing me God. I want to be like you because I see Him.” Hot tears well up, a smile breaks, thanksgiving bursts forth. The harvest is coming in.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor….For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:3,11
11 comments
Beautiful.
[…] If You Want to Give up on Mother’s Day: Lessons From the Garden […]
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As I pick myself up from the dirt, thank you. You are such a blessing to me as I look continually here for encouragement. Yes, iron sharpens iron. I’m in a season that needs it. Three God given beautiful children under three. Is it worth it? Yes it is. Even as I sit here amidst an oven fan lulling a newborn to sleep with dishes and laundry piled high. When I see what lies in their hearts already from good teaching. Yes, I must say it is worth it. Thank you again for your encouragement. It’s brought tears of joy back to me at my ministry.
Elizabeth,
And *this* is why I write.
A mother holds her fresh baby, life bursting forth from her own body. Was there ever anything more beautiful and new?
Oh, that’s poignant, as my spring time is now over. But the harvest is coming in, as half my children have now reached adulthood. And I am blessed to see from the fruit how worth it it is to work through summer to the harvest.
I can do this through Christ Who gives me strength.
Thank you, Kelly, for this lovely piece.
6 arrows,
I’m learning more and more, it is ONLY through Him that we do anything in motherhood.
Amen. I’m reading the ebook Complete now, and just got to the part where the author is speaking of the “I can’t” attitude that can befall us. She then quoted 2 Corinthians 9:8 — “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
Indeed, it is only through Christ’s grace we can mother our children (or do anything). What a blessing His grace is.
And speaking of this ministry of motherhood and how it is only through Christ we’re enabled for service, I just came across this wonderful article, “Every Ministry Morning,” by Paul Tripp.
http://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/every-ministry-morning
Have a most blessed Mother’s Day, Kelly.
Thank you, C. That is a most needful reminder. We have access to the throne where we can claim His promises every day. What a gift.
Soothing, beautiful words, Kelly. Went straight to my heart.