Unexpected Blessings

If you recall, last year I put a considerable amount of effort into my garden. Unfortunately, that was not my testimony this year. Between family, FBC ministry, PNBC work, and finding time to rest, I did not have the time this Spring to prepare and plant a garden.

Before we left for our trip to Africa, the garden area was overrun with weeds. I vowed to clear it when we returned. I figured that although I did not plant in the Spring, there would still be time to prepare for Fall planting of greens, scallions, carrots, and such.

Imagine my surprise when we returned home to find beefsteak and cherry tomatoes, cucumber flowers, and hot peppers fruiting in the uncultivated garden. The fruit that died on the vine reseeded the ground and voila! Immediately, I enlisted Joseph’s help. We cleared out as many weeds as we could, made a plan to buy stakes to prop up the tomatoes, and committed to tending to the garden for the rest of the season.

The Holy Spirit has reminded me of three lessons through this process that I want to share with you:

• God can (and will) take dead things and use them to bring new life;

• Be careful of letting unwanted things take over your life. They can get caught up with the desirable things and make it hard to separate the unwanted from the desirable without harming what you really want.

• When God gives you an unexpected blessing that you didn’t plan or work for, don’t take it for granted, but do your part in order to reap the full harvest that God has for you.

Growing in Christ

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah