Gardening is teaching me planting, tending, harvesting, and more. This year I learned the hard way that every garden has its own seasons. Its own pattern. While there may be general seasons for my area north of the equator. There are variations in locations.

¹ For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven —

² a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to discard,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to keep silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8*]

I followed the directions in the books and on the back of the seed packages for my hardiness zone, Zone 10, When I planted the seeds, the seedlings sprouted. Then I transferred them to containers. The seedlings grew tall, strong and bushy with hope for harvest.

Then in my area of the world, summer started in May. My plantings struggled with pests, heat, and rain. I tried moving them in and out of shade, and spraying the plants with water/soap mixtures. (There are no chemicals in this garden). I lost a lot of plants to heat. The rains started in June, flooding my struggling garden. I fed a lot pests scrumptious leaves.

All in all, I planted out of season for my South Florida microclimate. The upshot is, in gardening I cannot to buck the seasons where I live. No matter how hard I try. There truly is a season for everything and every intention under heaven. And your seasons, whether physical or spiritual, differ from mine. Today, the garden on your land may produce abundance while mine is producing compost. While one of us may face death, and another rejoices over birth. And while one may walk with hate, and another finds love. All of this is at the same moment in time across the globe. We are each walking in our own season.

As a young adult, I wondered why, when I was sad, the world around me was not heartbroken too. My friend’s paths may have been parallel to mine, and now I see our seasons were different. It took me a long time to realize they could be happy with good news while I mended a broken heart. I didn’t need to be irritable because they didn’t feel the same way I felt. Slowly, through many paths, I’ve learned to appreciate that the friend’s season and mine means we are where we need to be with the Lord right now.

While I may not be jumping up and down and happy, or weeping for whatever season they are walking through, I can love them enough to be with them at the moment. There is an out for me too. I can tuck away whatever season I am in and bring it to the Lord in my space of quiet prayer for the day.

⁶Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up. ⁷Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you. [1 Peter 5:6-7*]

Do I get this right? Most of the time, no. Feelings are real and strong, and fickle. I have to catch myself and realize my feelings can wait a moment. This is hard to do when caught up in the emotion. I have been practicing for a couple of years now, to take a breath before I respond to anything. The blessing is when I take a breath, my mind can settle the emotion and focus my attention. It is easy to do in the quiet prayers and very hard to do in a fast moving conversation.

Funny that, in the quiet, I can express my emotions to my Lord and deal with them better. And in a fast moving conversation, I need a clear mind not muddled to help me stay tuned to the Spirit. It is an interesting conundrum. I don’t understand it completely, but I know it works. So I practice to get the balance right. Just like the seasons, it is all about balance. I may not understand how it works, but it does.

Please pray with me:

Heavenly Father, Thank you for being with us through the season we walk in today. We face a world swirling with emotions and fear. Please calm our senses. All of our earthly systems are out of balance with You. As we face the obstacles in our path, we place our faith in You. Please forgive us, our communities, countries, and governments for caving to fear. You are the one True Almighty God who sees us through every season. In Your Holy Word, you tell us; Do not be afraid. Yet, we still let fear rule our hearts and actions. Father, please help us set aside fear and emotions to make clear, thoughtful decisions for our season right now. With Your guidance, may our thoughts and decisions be pleasing to You. In the name of Jesus, Amen. And in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Live your season walking and talking with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Have a blessed week,

Milly

*Translation of God’s Word used is the Complete Jewish Bible.