It is fall—my favorite time of year. I love the colors: oranges, purples, reds and
yellows. The fall sunsets: so bright and
majestic—reminding me of God the artist and creator of all. The fall flowers—picking from my garden and
buying from the local market—making arrangements bursting with color and joy to
blend with the pumpkins on the mantel, firepit, front porch, back patio. Cooler
mornings—quiet times with my Bible and coffee on the patio-- and hikes at the
lake—calm and serene. Lavender skies at sunset as I sit in my backyard and take
in the quietness of the hills surrounding me. It is harvest time—pumpkins, and apples, and
leaves falling and air turning crisp. Fall represents the turn of the season,
and for me it has been quite a season.
This Thursday I head into the operating room for surgery on the tumors—three masses to remove at different locations in my
body. Two renowned surgeons. And one
body, mind, soul, and spirit that is ready to trust in God’s mighty hand and
healing power. Everything since my
diagnosis has led to this point—appointments, chemotherapy, side effects,
procedures—all to reduce the size of the tumors and zap those cancer
cells. It is harvest time for those
tumors and I am ready to enter a new season of recovery, health, and being
cancer free.
I have learned so much about waiting and patience during
this time. I have learned that my timing
is not God’s timing and my plans are not always God’s plans. I have learned to rest on God’s promises and
live on the solid rock of His foundation.
It has not been easy. I think of
the farmer who must go through the process of developing a bountiful harvest. He must prepare the soil, plant the seeds, fertilize,
water….and then wait. He must relinquish
control to the forces of nature and weather and wind, rain, storm and drought. Sometimes he loses a whole crop and must begin
again. And at other times the harvest is
abundant and sweet and good.
The Bible is filled with references to farmers, soil, crops,
vines, and harvest. We learn to cling to
the vine, land on good soil, fertilize our faith life, dwell by streams of
living water, and be workers of the harvest. Jesus is the vine, we are the
branches. Apart from the vine we can bear NO fruit.
It’s harvest time—what season are you in? Are you parched
and dry and burnt out? Are you just a seedling, peeking out and seeking living water?
Are you thirsting for sun, water, and fertilizer so you can grow more?
Are you barren? Are you beaten down by the elements surrounding you? Are you producing fruit in an abundant harvest
of joy?
Whatever season you are in, there is hope-- there is a
harvest at the end. I have experienced all seasons and have had to wait and
hope. There is a time and a season for everything under the sun. And I rest in the hands of the Master
Gardener, the Great I Am, the King of Kings, the Hope and Peace for all.
2 comments:
Kirsten,
My thoughts and prayers will be with you this Thursday. I will also have my bible study lift you up again in prayer for the surgery. You are an inspiration to so many and I'm so grateful to be following your journey. Blessings to you and your family this week!
Love, Katy Gallinger Jupina
Kirsten,
I, too, will be thinking of you and sending my best energy to you on Thursday.
Hugs,
Mary
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