The strawberries were so abundant this year. They started out in March as six or seven three leaf sprouts that survived the winter before. There must still be a hundred bright red fruits on the now one foot plus diameter hosts; such beautiful examples of God’s grace. I trimmed them back getting them ready for winter and next spring. I’ll leave the fruit cuz I can’t bend down to pick them; old hips and knees.
The front wildflowers planted two years ago are full, of differing shapes and height in blazing orange, yellow, blue, pink and white flowers. They came back stronger than last year. Now they have their late, fall blooms showing before the winter sets in. Tares came in amongst them; wheat and tares. Sorry Lord but I had to pick the tares; and yet some reappear.
I’ve nurtured the wild mint that grew into four by three by two foot bunches. I dug them up, transplanting them all over the yard ready for spring. The bees love their flowers with a deafening whir all summer. I did the same with the broken lavenders. I found some peonies two years ago that are now ready for winter after growing this summer into to two foot diameters. When I found them they were almost dead, buried and infested with ants that had rotted them in their roots. These things take time.
Throughout the yard that was listless and dying two years ago, I’ve trimmed, fed and shaped the hydrangea, Rhodys and transplanted the roses. The Red Cardinal climbers and deep purple, soft blue and radiant red Morning Glory have carpeted the landscape covering a multitude of sins. They will soon perish for the winter months.
My wife left about a year ago with my daughter; just served me with divorce papers. My other daughter is distant in Budapest. My son is in the army, distant. I was told if I quoted the bible again in the schools I’d be banned from teaching. I’m looking for a church and ministry doors; the prisons may be a possibility. Things take time.
All these thoughts as I sat rocking on the porch today in the low autumn sun. I looked to the sky with thanksgiving, loving the Lord, praising Him for my surroundings and circumstance. I reasoned that everything was as it should be, that I was in this place to give Him glory. We were made to give Him glory, to delight in Him as He delights in us. These things are timeless, eternal. It was a good day.
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
…just a thought…