The Harvest

It is almost apple picking time. The fall is my favorite season, I think. Perhaps that is just because it is the season of life I am in. But I love the whole wonder and symbol of gathering the harvest. The slight chill in the air, the corn as high as an elephant's eye, the poisonous snakes all taking their venom off to a long winter's nap....

It is a season of expectation and realization. That apple has been slowly maturing all summer, growing bigger and juicier and more vibrantly colored. The first bite into its ripened flesh might crunch into succulent firm and sweet deliciousness, or it might unwittingly dissect a worm and taste bitter and rotten. You can't always tell from the outside. I know from personal experience that there is little as horrifying as taking that first bite, and seeing half a worm among your teeth marks.

I am at the age of the harvest. My children, those little apples of my eye, are almost ripe. The world is ready to bite into them, and it still remains to be seen if they are full of sweetness and the fruit of God's spirit within.... or not. Matt had his official first day of Law School yesterday. He called me after his first class, brimming over with joy and excitement. He said the professor was fantastic, the material riveting and he felt confident he could do this. And he thanked me for my help with the wedding plans. I am pretty sure this ripening apple is a good one.

Sometimes the message God sends me in the morning is simple. It is just one of gratitude and joy. Be thankful, for the harvest is good.

Psalm 85:11-13 (New International Version)

¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.

¹² The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.

¹³ Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.