My garden boots tramped through snow. A bucket of feed in hand, I finally made it to the chicken house. By this point my hands were feeling the sting of the cold and I quickened my work so I could get inside. I hastily slid my hand under the brooding hen as I retrieved three warm eggs. The heat on my fingertips reminded me how badly I wanted to get inside.
(I live in Arkansas; cold is not my thing.)
Making my way back toward the house, I paused as I passed the blueberry bushes. Their spring growth had begun, ever so slowly. The buds pregnant with new life inside stood in stark contrast to the bright white surrounding them.
Didn’t they know winter isn’t over yet?
Yet here they were, slowly beginning their growth. In a few months, deep green leaves will cover the bushes, white flowers will burst out as the winter frosts subside, and beautiful blue and purple fruits will begin to form.
These blueberry bushes didn’t wait until the snow melted to begin their growth.
Seeing those pregnant buds made me think of how often I’m tempted to simply wait the winter out and not begin growing until all the snow has melted, the winter winds have subsided, sun warms the earth, and green abounds.
I have dreams but I need to wait, I reason, until everything is just perfect before growing into them.
The thing about blueberry bushes is they are well aware of the season. They don’t begin putting out flowers in February. But they also don’t wait to begin their growth in May.
They know their purpose: to produce their fruit in June and begin growing for the next season in July. But if they don’t start their growth in February, they won’t be ready to begin fruiting when the time is right.
There’s a lot to be said to knowing our seasons. My season in life now is to spend my energies on my children. Yet that doesn’t mean I am to wait until that season is over to begin growing for the fruit God has prepared for me to produce in the years down the road.
I keep studying the Bible. I deepen my prayer life. I continue to practice in my writing. I allow refinement. I take my hardships as needful learning opportunities, knowing that they’ll give me the needed strength and depth to weather the hot summer’s heat.
I have a feeling that many of us find ourselves in times when we have this dream – this God-placed desire – but the snow is still on the ground.
…to become a mom
…to begin that ministry
…to find that job
…to begin a fruitful retirement
…to mentor someone
…to adopt a child
…to change careers
But the weather is harsh. All we want to do is go inside and wait it out. To find something else to keep our minds off our dream.
We can all take a lesson from the blueberry bush–small steps, small growth, strengthening through the harsh trials of life, growth on the inside that no one can see–these things can be significant strides to emerging in full bloom when the time is right.
Don’t wait to begin growing until the timing is perfect. Strengthen your roots, seek the sun, and begin growing while there’s still snow on the ground.
The fruit, in its time, will be beautiful.
Thank you for reading! If you would like to join me on my very imperfect journey, click here and enter your email address to have each post I write emailed directly to you (usually about once or twice a week). I’d be honored to share my journey with you!