Yep, we adhered to the advice from a friend to “gobble until you wobble!” We have eaten from the bountiful buffet harvest. (We are out of town for a little get-a-way and a hotel Thanksgiving was a first for us. Always fun to try something new!)

I’ve been thinking about the “harvest” a lot. Unfortunately, my weight watcher’s weigh-in next week will measure the impact of our “harvest” at the buffet table today. But, many of the things that I do don’t seem to produce many results. 

Some of that makes sense. Because I am using large needles and thick yarn, progress in my knitting project is easily noticed. But, the physical therapy I am doing yields minuscule changes that are impossible to see from day to day. Those positive changes, big or small, are great but they are not the harvests that I really long for. 

Since retiring after more than 30 years of civil service, God’s path for me has involved a lot of seed planting – in relationships, in new assignments, in personal growth and in long term endeavors. It’s important and satisfying work and I love it. But, I long to see a harvest in certain fields that seem dry and hard, that have been without fruit too long. 

A few of you know exactly what I mean. You have worked so long and hard on that relationship, in that ministry, on that project. You desire to see the fruit that only God can produce. I join you in that longing. 

But, Friend, the scripture tasks us to go and to teach and to do; but, God does not promise that we will see the resulting harvest.  

So, we must leave that to God. We should, instead, turn our focus to our faith rather than on His harvest. The scripture says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Romans 11:1). Our faith assures us that when we plant the seeds God has given us in the time and manner that He directs, that there will be a harvest. 

Keep planting and keep trusting, Friends, the harvest is coming. His promises are true: 

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

 

Here are some great comments I’ve heard over the past couple of days:

“He’s a big load of laundry.”

“You put your hook into the wrong whale.”

“That’s a 100% beef with pancakes on the side.”

“He went all river dance on that kick.”

And, last but not least, “I owe everything to my parents, especially my mom and dad.”

Ever say anything really dumb? Ever started talking and realized that you were making no sense whatsoever? If not; the world is still in balance because I’ve done it enough to make up for your deficiency in being deficient! 

Recently, I said something really stupid. 

I am back in physical therapy (PT) to strengthen my left knee. (I had a total knee replacement done on the right this summer.) PT involves many different activities and exercises done for a set number of repetitions or for a specific amount of time. We count to 15 a lot!!

Small timers are ringing all day in a PT clinic as individuals finish their assigned actions. That bell is a wonderful sound!

One of the actions I do is a prolonged stretch. I strap a 5 pound weight to each ankle, lay on my stomach on a treatment table and scoot down so that my legs, knee and below, are hanging off the table. At the moment, I do this for 8 minutes two times a day. It is not fun. 

One day my PT couldn’t find a timer and asked me if I would time myself by using my watch. I hadn’t worn one that day and replied, “It’s ok; I’ll time myself by the TV.” At that moment, everyone looked at me. I tried to explain that most TV shows have commercials every 7 minutes. But, to be honest, my words made no sense. My PT said nothing, smiled at me as If to acknowledge that I must insane and started a timer. 

I felt like one “big load of laundry.”

We’re going to make a fool of ourselves from time-to-time. Don’t worry if it happens tomorrow: you can blame your mess up on the amount of food you have eaten, the deliciousness of the food, or the fact that dinner is still 2 hours away!  

Just make sure that your crazy words are about your own life and not about someone else. Don’t burn any bridges!

Love,

Jill (just on of God’s kids)

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“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”  (Proverbs 28:13)