Planting and Growing

I often go and visit my friends Minnie and Mary. I have actually become closer to her sister Dani. Mary and her kids sat inside watching t.v. I was bored I wanted to do something so I came outside and began helping Minnie. She is the 50 or 60 year old mother.  I never had the opportunity of seeing Minnie teach. She was my boss for a long time but her English is miniscule. However, she tries. As I helped her plant the eggplant. I struggled. I ran back and forth to get more from Dani. I wasn't burying the roots enough. I was  avoiding the red ants and continually flicking them off my gloves and my poor Crocs were sinking into the mud. Minnie was kind. "Oh, Kathryn your doing so good. Wow! Just amazing came out of her mouth." I knew that I was creating more work rather than helping but she genuinely was proud of her American daughter for trying.

I think that's often how the Father feels about us. We're messy, we make things complicated, but all He sees is we're trying.  

A few weeks later I would go back and we would be preparing for Vietnamese New Year. Mary's mother in law would remake and rewrap almost every Khaimouk I made. It was hard, I'd laugh and feel distraught but wouldn't give up. When I was almost in tears they made me take a break and Dani showed me how the eggplants I had helped with were growing. Minnie again called them the eggplants I had grown. I laughed and spoke the truth but she only said "You did well. You'll get it just keep coming back." Of course this was all in Lao but I began to realize what a wonderful teacher she must have been.

Before she had even offered that I take the best ones from the bunch. To which I replied how about we eat them together. Afterall, not only did I not deserve the best but they would go to waste. I am one person and they are 19. How much better they would be enjoyed together. 

Again I think that's how the Father is. He would offer us it all but He knows we couldn't handle it. He patiently sits there in the middle of it with us all and shares it little by little. 

A few weeks later it was finished. They had picked it and I happened to be there. It was to be a part of our dinner, but it wasn't eggplant. It was a form of Spinach. I had thought I was growing eggplant. She handed me the bundle I had picked to wash. To be honest I wasn't sure how to wash it in the silver basin so I washed it once then dumped out the water which flooded the paved area. Dani just laughed. I washed it a second time and then left the water unsure of how to dispose of it. Yet again I was credited with "doing such a good job."

Again, it wasn't what I thought. I was graciously credited because I trust and I got to eat in the bounty of it. That is how our Father works. Things aren't often what we think they are but He knows better. He just asks that we show up, do our best and blesses us in ways we can't imagine if we choose to see him in the little things or in fact even in everything.

In this season go to Him where ever you are and remember He has better for you. He cares about you. He loves you and it's not about us but what He can do in and through us if we are willing to follow after Him. 

Will you bloom where you are planted today even if it's spinach instead of eggplant?