What Are You Harvesting?

"He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during 

harvest is a disgraceful man."

Proverbs 10:5

I love Proverbs. It is a place in the Bible I can go and each and every time I am hit smack in the face with a simple truth-a practical reality-a no-nonsense- get down to the bottom of it- face facts statement.  

Today while reading the verse above what jumped into my mind was not the question of what season it is...or am I a man-does this apply to me? or even what should I be gathering? What hit hard was this:

"Am I sleeping ? and If I am sleeping....what harvest am I missing?"

  

Obviously for a farmer-harvesting your food when it is ripe is critical. There is no other option. If you fail to do so, you and your family will starve. The end result could be death. It's that important.

So, again. What am I supposed to be harvesting and what is the end result if I sleep through it?



The bountiful harvest that the Lord has blessed me with is 6 children. Five biological and one foster son.

Summer, fall, winter and spring are all harvest season for me! There is never a season where I can sleep and my crops will go dormant or care for themselves.

My children are still young. Ages 2-13. Perhaps you are thinking, "they are not old enough to harvest..they are still growing." Indeed. They are growing and changing and learning every day. It is still my job to feed and water and nurture and love. But...whether it be today or in 20 years...they are my harvest. They are my crop. They are what God has given me to care for and help grow. When they mature, what I have done or not done will make a difference in their outcome. If I sleep through the important part (to a farmer that would be harvest time-to me it is the entire-impressionable-child raising time), what detrimental effect am I having on their outcome?

So, I asked myself: "Are you sleeping?" 

No answer. Not a good sign. 

"Hey-I'm talking to you! Are you sleeping!!!!??????"

"Sigh. Do I have to answer that? Do I have to really look at myself that closely? Can't I just go about my day and do my routine tasks and feel like I've accomplished something half decent if not good? I am tired and I am not in the mood for deep personal inflection right now!!!"

Well-you'll be pleased to know this conversation was at least in side my head and not aloud!!

But it's about how I felt. 

I desire to be wise. Not disgraceful. To please my God-to please and help my husband-to be a good example and encourager to others and of course for the best hope of a good harvest!

I think I was half asleep when God nudged me awake with this passage today. I think some days I just don't have the umph to really see past the moment and focus on the future harvest. The tasks seems so overwhelming and I can't see past all the weeds! I allow myself to snooze a bit in front of the computer....for a few minutes staring out the window here and there....in my selfish moments when I feel like I never have a minute for me...maybe you've been there. Maybe you know what I mean.

But the truth is the truth. A wise man works hard-really-really hard-for that one season every year. That harvest season that will provide food and life for his family for the whole rest of the year. It's back braking-sweat and maybe even tear producing work-but you've just got to do it. It's that crucial.

I'm sure you've heard, as I have, how fast this season of our life will pass. "They'll grow up right before your eyes." "You'll blink and they'll be married." It must be true. Every one who has raised children says it.

So-this is my season. It's going to be hard. But it will go by fast. Am I willing to really wake up-put my back into it-sweat and cry so my harvest-my children-my blessings from the Lord -will be all He intended them to be????

I am willing. But my flesh is weak. My first sweat (or maybe it will be tears) producer is this: I've asked my husband to change the passwords on our computers and not to tell me what they are-no matter how hard I beg!! I use the computer as some sort of outlet-some false sense of being connected to other adults-some times as a little snooze when I should be awake tending to my crop. So...it will be painful for me-as pathetic as admitting that sounds-but I'm going to do it..because the results of sleeping through this season are just  too horrible to consider and I need a wide open window...a splash of cold water...maybe even a slap in the face to really WAKE UP!!

How 'bout you?

Linking up at:       Wise Woman
 Far Above Rubies

Blessings,