The harvest

A few weeks ago, I spent a small fortune to buy an AeroGarden. I was so excited when it was delivered by UPS, and planted my little seed pods with delightful anticipation of a summer full of homemade spaghetti sauce, caprese salad, and bruschetta. Of the seven pods it the kit, two of them were basil... my favorite herb.

So imagine my dismay when the other five herbs grew beautifully and the paltry basil, the herb supposed to grow the fastest, lagged behind. It's so funny how those seeds were packaged the same way, planted at the same time and in the same conditions, have been watered the same, fed the same, and have the same amount of light. But their growth is so much slower.

I mean, it's not that I don't enjoy dill and thyme, but if I had my preference, I'd much rather have healthy basil than healthy chives.

This morning, during our weekly devo, one of my coworkers was talking about sowing seeds. We never know what God will use in our lives, but we must have faith that He uses it all. Sometimes not the things that we would prefer, but He knows what we need, and sometimes, when we lovingly tend to what we sow, we have a fruitful harvest.

But even when we don't, He can use that too. Obviously God doesn't mean for me to have a lot of basil this summer (unless I visit the farmers' market), but perhaps He wants me to can some pickles or bake some potatoes.

Even when it's not the flavor we want, He always provides the seasoning.

(Yeah, it's cheesy, but it's true!)

'Take this cup from me'

Sometimes, when I have something difficult to do, I begin to ask God to give me an out. Then I start feeling guilty for questioning Him. He is God, after all. Who am I to doubt His will?

But then I remember that His Son--the incomparable, perfect Christ--asked for a reprieve as well. In the Garden of Gethsemene prior to His death on the cross, Jesus implored the Father, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from me." But the more important lesson is what He said next, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done."

Paraphrased: "I don't wanna, but if you want me to, I will." See, in my opinion, God doesn't mind our asking why, but He does mind our disobedience. We can ask for clarification, but we should be willing, just as Jesus was, to be beaten and broken for Him.

Last night, on Desperate Housewives, Bree was embarrassed that Lynette raised her hand during a church service, and said, "Church is a place for answers, not questions." Her pastor corrected her, saying, "Church is a place for questions."

God said that we have not because we ask not. That doesn't mean we will always have because we ask. But we can come to Him in humbleness and obedience and ask for another way. When there is no other way, and when it gets hard to do His will, He freely gives mercy and grace.