The Waiting Season
All the trees are losing their leaves, and not one of them is worried.” — Donald Miller
I'm starting to garden again. It's time. I've put off tending to my existing beds, which have grown over, leaving little evidence that the area once boasted small offerings and flowers. My auntie, who grows the most incredible collard greens, offered to send me some seeds. After I received her package, I started planning: where I would plant them and what area in the yard would be most appropriate to yield an excellent crop? I prayed about it because I wanted to be intentional in the rebirth of my garden. And the question that came to mind immediately was: when is the best time to plant the seeds?
She told me to wait until next year, that with this type of collard, it's best to plant during a specific season. And, of course, I was crushed, I had plans, and in my mind, I was already stewing the greens from my garden with a bit of smoked meat served with sweet cornbread.
And then I thought: my God, what an incredible lesson in this moment. While we may want ...what we want ...when we want it, every season is not our season. There's an optimistic enthusiasm mindset that's pervasive, and it's misleading. I've learned that we don't always get what we want ...when we want it. The operative word is when. Because we often tie the success of a thing to when it's delivered. The timing plays a significant role in how it's perceived, and we rob ourselves of the opportunity for growth because we've stifled the dream. We can only see it in one way.
All this from collard green seeds.
Here's what I know for sure and my hope for us. First, the seeds we’re given, be it a talent, calling, ministry, community organization - whatever it is. Trust and believe that God will help us and has our whole heart covered. Second, be selective with our seasons. If we are trusting, the opportunity will present itself, but we must stay faithful, be prayful, and prepared.
So while I'll hold on to these seeds for now, there's nothing stopping me from prepping the space and getting ready for when the season to sow comes. There was a song that was playing in the back of my mind as I wrote this. Whole Heart (Hold Me Now - by Hillsong United & Taya.
Part of the lyrics say, “so here I stand high in surrender, I need you now. Hold my heart, now and forever my soul cries out. Once I was broken but you loved my whole heart through, sin has no hold on me ‘cause your grace holds me now.”
I pray God’s perfect peace and grace for you. Me? I’m grateful for the “want to” — the want to renew my garden, in other words, the want to sharing my writing again, the want to begin to look for the good around me, and the want to renew my relationship with God. I’ll be worshiping Him for what's to come while I wait.
Whole Heart (Hold Me Now) - Hillsong United & TAYA
Hey friends! I'm using a new newsletter platform. Let me know what you think. ~ Cece
This holiday why not read The Christmas Delay.