Fall is in the air! As I look out my window this morning, the valley to the south of us is full of fog and I can tell there is a crisp chill in the air. I love the dramatic change of seasons here in Minnesota. There is a certain anticipation of the spring flowers, the hot and humid summer days, and even the knee deep white stuff that will all too soon be here to greet us on our way out the door. Perhaps the most exciting season for me has always been Fall. As a child, I was excited because it was sure to bring some fun birthday gifts. Now, as an adult, I know that it is time to harvest the fruits of my labor from my garden, not to mention the added landscape of my favorite colors. The leaves turn the most brilliant golds, reds, browns and every hue in between; only work that the Master Himself could produce!
The kitchen is just beginning to heat up at our house. Lots of clear canning jars, steaming pots and things bubbling over on the stove top are visible. Many smells (both good and not so good!) meet your nose as you enter our home. The sounds of chopping and grinding are interrupting conversations and TV viewing. My family turns their head to the disorder and occasionally complains of the aroma the salsa brings. Me… I love every minute of it! There is something about all those pretty sealed jars that just make me happy. Knowing that my family will have a variety of yummy food on the table is an added bonus.
When preserving foods, there are many needed preparations to ensure a product that tastes good, looks appetizing and is ultimately safe to eat. While doing all this careful preparation for canning and preserving, it made me think of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Do I use the same care in sealing God’s Word in my heart as I do storing my garden harvest?
Recently, I realized I had not been as faithful about caring for my relationship with God. The busyness of life had crept in and overtaken my time. Much of my busyness appeared to be good things, worthy of my time and energy. Perhaps it was the changing of schedules as summer was winding down and school was gearing up for a new year, but somewhere I started being less intentional about my quiet time with God. Some days I would just check in throughout the day and list off my needs and requests. During this time I frequently felt a bit overwhelmed and tired. Thankfully, it did not take too long for me to recognize something was missing from my life.
John 15 says “4Remain in me, and I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Do you see what I was missing? I was not abiding in the vine; I was going about things on my own. All that work, labor, effort and energy could have been way more fruitful. Had I been abiding and seeking God’s desires for my time, I can’t help but think how the outcome of my time and energy would have been very different. I can only assume that the fruits of my labor would have been much more appealing and helped advance God’s Kingdom, while glorifying God Himself!
Becky Ossefoort