These last few weeks have been busied getting ready for the winter season. The warm sun has given us extra time to reap the fruits of our labor in the garden, chop the wood, and finish the extra renovating projects left to do on the house. We took a quick jaunt to visit Jaja and Papa and helped my mom harvest her garden, as well. The kids were excited to pick out their own pumpkins and pick the last of the carrots, radishes, and zucchinis. Driving home, I saw the beautiful fall colors, and I thought of the word harvest, the importance of it, and the joy the harvest brings when the laborers are many.
To be honest, my entire gardening experience this year has taught me so many wonderful things. I learned how to keep going when I wanted to give up. I learned how to take the extra time to care for it, water it, and pull the things out that didn’t belong. I learned to be patient in the growing, understanding that some of the veggies need much more time than others. Some things grew and expanded while others didn’t produce much of anything. My garden and I have many similarities and before we get our first blanket of snow, it had one more lesson to teach me. The importance of the laborers.
I was losing a bit of my steam with the garden as we entered October. I had to pull things out, clean them, freeze or can them, prepare them, and then, just to do it all over again as more things were growing. That’s when I called in the troops, my boys. I started to send them out to gather and to experience the joy of pulling out the ripe fruits of our labor. My husband helped as well and together we enjoyed the process so much more. Watching my mom with the grandkids pulling out veggies was much more fun for her than doing it alone. God has always intended us to be many parts of the body of Christ and not just one, working together to accomplish the common goal. John 4:37 says, “Thus the saying ‘one sows and another reaps’ is true.” Some of us will plant, some will inquisitively tend, and some will harvest, reaping the fruit of the labor. As we look deeper into the harvest as if harvesting souls for the kingdom of God, we must ask ourselves, are we doing all the sowing and reaping, or are we doing the part that God intended for us to do?
I have a tendancy to think I do not need help and can do everything on my own, But then the burden can start to feel heavy and the yoke can seem hard. God says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
God never intended for the sowing and reaping to be burdensome, but light. This is why, He gave us help; He gave us each other. Today, I am reminded to ask for help, and not take the reins when it isn’t my turn to have the reigns. For some days I may sow and some I may reap, but I have to do it God’s way, and come alongside the other laborers. For together we will reap a harvest of joy overflowing. We will see God’s kingdom built on earth, and souls saved for eternity. Let us rejoice in the Harvest this season and work together as a team of brothers and sisters to sow, to reap and to rejoice in the goodness of His work on earth through His faithful children. Hand over the reins if they need to be handed over, and trust where He has you. The harvest is always ready, together, we must be too.
Emily Rodewald 