Harvest List
It’s Autumn — my favorite time of year. Cool air begins to wash over the land and the evening sky is brushed with colors of golden yellow, burnt umber and violet, giving our souls peace as we let the gardens slowly begin their preparations for a winter’s rest.
As I pulled out my journal and began to write out my to-do list, I wasn’t feeling very inspired:
Gather apples and lemons from our fruit trees to make home pies.
Cut back the lavender to dry for potpourri and sachets.
Pull out paper and drawing and paint materials to create holiday gifts.
And so on…
Though I love doing everything on my list, it felt as though something was missing and then I realized, I did not sit down first to pray and invite God into my decisions and thoughts.
Rather than truly reflect and embrace the gifts of the season from God, I began my list, without my heart being in it. I was focused on the repetitive annual to-dos rather than the blessing that is another year of these life-giving acts.
Slow down, slow down is what I began to hear on my heart. Go outside, walk around and smell the aroma of the cooler days. Turn everything off and embrace the Harvest season.
I went to the terrace with my journal and Bible and there, before my eyes, was the most beautiful autumn sunset. I sat quietly with God, read His word, and watched Him paint a masterpiece across the sky.
As I reflected, I was reminded that this is the time of year when we can truly feel God blessing us with his abundance of love through His bounty of fruits and promises. My heart fills with gratitude for another year of God’s grace upon my life and my family and friends’ lives. This feeling is what inspires me to paint, draw, write and create as a way to express the love in my heart for God’s abundance and glory.
I opened my Bible to the Book of John and began to read in chapter 4: 31-38 (TPT) about the Harvest. As I read these verses, I began to hear more words on my heart. I opened my journal and started to sketch my thoughts about what I believed God was showing me and what this year’s Harvest season is all about. It is not just about the wonderful fruits and abundance from our labors, it is about the Harvest of Souls for His Kingdom and Glory. I believe our lives, as believers, reflect his harvest as we embrace His promises and blessings by encouraging one another. His love gives us all hope to persevere through the seasons of life.
36 Everyone who reaps these souls for eternal life will receive a reward.
Both those who plant spiritual seeds
and those who reap the spiritual harvest
will celebrate together with great joy!
37 And this confirms the saying,
‘One sows the seed and another reaps the harvest.’
I began to realize that the Harvest season is truly about the people, places and things we grow for God’s Kingdom, His Glory in love and encouragement through each other.
My to-do list changed from doing things the same old way to welcoming in the newness of the Harvest season and the joy of growing and sowing— and sharing the gifts of our labor through creativity, kindness, conversations, breaking bread, and feasting on God’s word.
My new Harvest List is:
This season let’s grow those around us— family, friends and all those we meet — by passing on acts of kindness, love and encouragement.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11(NIV)
