Waiting for the Harvest

Each season offers the best temperatures and soil for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, and more are all found at the local vegetable stands. As we are waiting for the harvest, there is an opportunity to thank God for His bountiful blessings.

In the Lowcountry of South Carolina, there are numerous farms and plantations which employ workers to prepare the soil at the best time, plant the seeds, and harvest the fruits and vegetables when they are ready for picking. There is something special about having produce from a local farmstand.

My husband and I enjoy visiting one particular market because of the variety of items to purchase. Local honey, numerous fresh fruits, and vegetables, and sometimes homemade goods such as bread and boxes of cookies are placed on a table or in a bin.

As the spring season begins, we ride by our favorite farm and watch as the farmers are tilling the soil. Tractors prepare the acres of land. The scent of turned soil is evident as we pass by with our windows down. Men and women wearing protective hats and clothing are working hard so things will be ready when harvest time arrives.

Days pass and we see sprouts and new growth in the fields. Weeks go by and signs begin to be displayed. “Fresh strawberries. Pick your own or buy a basket.” Harvest time has arrived.

As the temperatures warm, and the roadside stand opens, we enjoy stopping to purchase fresh produce. The dirt floor of the stand brings back special memories of childhood when my parents and I shopped at the local produce markets.

Weeks and months pass and spring turns into summer and then the season of fall arrives. Bright orange pumpkins are filling the rows in the fields. Families arrive for the autumn festival. Along with picking apples, they choose pumpkins for carving and cooking.

Each season is a time for harvesting the crops. There is hard work, time, dedication, and effort that goes into each seed planted. The farmers, their employees and volunteers, the salespeople, and the customers all play important roles in the harvest.

Some farms and plantations glean what is left over and provide nourishment for people in need of food. Nothing goes to waste. The animals are also fed.

God calls us to take care of His creations. We can answer His call and show love to others by sharing and providing food.

The most important part of waiting for the harvest is praying to God and giving thanks for His bountiful blessings.

“They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.” (Psalms 107:37-38 NIV)

How do you give thanks for the harvest?

In His Name,
Melissa Henderson