Every spring, my family plants a garden. Some years it’s been a couple tomato plants, while other years it’s been much more extensive. Some plants are starters from a garden shop, while others are grown from seedlings. Each year there’s great hope that there will be enough harvest to augment our family meals.
In the weeks preparing for our garden, there is inevitably disagreements about how much we should plant and which variations of vegetable we should grow. My husband is what I call an “over-planter.” He puts multiple seeds into one pocket of soil or multiple plants in close proximity. On the other hand, I’m an “under-planter.” I will place one or two seeds in a soil pocket or I’ll allow plenty of space between plants so there’s lots of space for growth.
According to scripture, I’m likely the one in the wrong, as I should be sowing generously.
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NIV) states, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’”
While it seems chaotic in the world in the midst of a pandemic, there have been extraordinary acts of kindness reported on the news and in social media. The neighbors who mow the lawns they don’t own. People who escort the elderly veteran in the grocery store. The medical professionals who are coming out of retirement to help assist. These are the people who are cheerful givers. God has blessed them abundantly so that in ALL times, they are able to abound in every good work.
According to the Bible, I should be sowing generously in both my heart of giving and in my garden. Despite being confined to the house through social distancing, I’m going to use this season to practice sowing into those around me.
And I’m going to support my husband’s over-planting…
~Emily
Iron Porch 