Posted in Godly Living

     We are surrounded by nature. Some of us more than others. Here in Maine there is endless beauty to behold from the pine forests, to the vast ocean, to the majestic mountain peaks. But no matter where you live, there is something there that will point you to a creator and if you look carefully enough you may even find a lesson about life lurking in the most unusual places. For me it was the strawberry field. A recent trip strawberry picking with my children taught me lessons about prayer, friendships and even parenting.

     One of the first things I discovered was that there are 3 types of pickers. Some people pick berries by getting down on their hands and knees and crawling along, looking for the best fruit. Others stoop from the waist to pick, while another group wanders aimlessly around the field looking for the best, ripest berries. They stay there and pick for a few minutes then move to another spot across the rows where they see another patch of irresistible berries. People tend to approach life in much the same way. Some get down on their hands and knees and crawl. These are the ones who know they can’t do anything in their own power, that everything they accomplish is because of the strength God has provided. They aren’t concerned with getting things done, only getting them done right. Others depend on their own strength and stoop from the waist, knowing they can move along at a quicker pace, yet all the while missing some of the greatest blessings because they aren’t willing to humble themselves by crawling to the Father for guidance. Finally, there are those who constantly move from place to place. You know the saying "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." They see a greener pasture and move on, only to find a still greener one, further along the way. Contenment is just out of reach. If I only had a little more money, a nicer house, a more prestigious job...

     While picking I soon realized that you have to get down on your knees to find the best fruit. Strawberries grow in small clumps beneath leaves and often times amongst weeds. They can easily be missed by the passerby if not he/she is not specifically looking to find them. How true this is of the many blessings that come our way each day. Recently, my son was planning a road trip out of town in a very old, and in my eyes, worn out car. I was concerned for his safety, not to mention the fact that I was wondering if he would make it all the way there and back. The day before he was set to leave for his trip, (he had left his car sitting out next to the road), an older gentleman stopped and asked if the car was for sale. He said that whenever he sees a car like that he tries to buy it because they make such great little cars. What a blessing! That simple unsolicited visit eased my worries and needless to say, my son made it to Tennessee and back (about 18 hours one way) without so much as a flat tire. Most people would chalk it up to coincidence, but amongst the weeds of worry and concern I was able to see God’s blessing and feel His reassurance.

     You can't carry your load of strawberries around with you, you have to set them down. Whenever we go to pick strawberries we have with us a wooden box with a handle that holds either six or eight quarts of strawberries. This box can get very heavy if you carry it with you while at the same time trying to pick berries. You get tired out very quickly and are apt to quit far sooner than if the load were lighter. The same is true when we carry our burdens around with us all day. We become weary and depressed. Often ready to give up. But Jesus says in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." One of my favorite songs says "I will cast all my cares upon you, I will lay all of my burdens down at your feet..." Frustrations often come in small packages: spilt milk, clogged sink, burnt toast, etc. However, these small frustrations, when piled on top of each other, become a huge load to carry. It reminds me of the game "Don’t Break the Camel’s Back." Each player would put a straw in the camel’s back, until finally someone would placee a straw that would break the camel’s back and spill the rest of the straws. It is these, sometimes small frustrations, that are more apt to be our last straw, than the larger trials that come our way like a lost job, serious illness or death in the family.When we begin our day, or a particular task by casting our cares on Him first, we aren’t heavy laden with the work ahead or with worries behind and are better equipped to complete the job without being bogged down under our load of cares.

Hi
What a wonderful analogy............
I'm glad you felt secure when your son left on his trip!
Bye
Fiffi