Planting Seeds of Faith

The snow crunches under his feet, and the calendar says it’s not yet spring. A large truck pulls into the yard, unloading bags that contain a season’s worth of hopes and dreams. Though the work is not yet here, he is already planting the seeds of faith.

While the winter winds blow, the farmer spends time in the warm shop. Pieces and parts lay all over, papers and plans cover the table surfaces. He will tinker in there in the evenings and when time allows. Though the work is not yet here, he is already planting the seeds of faith.

He watches the early morning news, hoping and praying to see an upswing in the markets. While the season is still some time away, he samples the soil and studies new ways to improve and conserve farming practices. Dog-eared magazines stand in a pile, used as reference for new ideas or simple encouragement. Though the work is not yet here, he is already planting the seeds of faith.

As the earth begins to warm under the change of seasons, and hints of green begin to appear, the pace of spring begins to quicken. The machinery is serviced and cleaned. The planter hooked up and put through its diagnostic exams and tune up. Though the work is not yet here, he is already planting seeds of faith.

And then the day comes that conditions are right, the soil is worked, temperatures evaluated, and fertilizer laid down. It’s another big piece of planting the seeds of faith.

The big wheels and planter roll gently and carefully into the first field. A crowd gathers to follow the tractor, dig in the soil behind, and trouble shoot those inevitable little hiccups that come during the maiden trips across the field. When all goes well, smiles abound. Those are the moments we love, as he plants the seeds of faith.

On quiet spring nights, the horizon is dotted with the glow of tractor lights and the gentle hum of machinery fills the air.

All over this country, they are planting the seeds of faith.

The days and weeks wear on, dodging Mother Nature and working through the breakdowns of equipment. As the urgency to plant all the seeds picks up speed, it can weigh heavily on the farmer and family. The seeds of faith sown in the ground and in the hearts of those who work the land carry value far beyond one season’s worth of hope and dreams.

And when the days lengthen and warm days of summer arrive, those seeds of faith burst forth from the soil and stretch their green toward Heaven in declaration of appreciation for all the faith and care sown into them. The farmer weeds them and waters them and provides stewardship over all of these planted seeds of faith.

And when summer wears on and they grow to full maturity, the farmer steps back to let mother nature run her course and surrenders control over the outcome for the harvest. It’s in those days that the work done to plant seeds of faith in the soil and hearts matters most of all.

And when the combine crosses the fields and begins to bring in the bounty of all that sown faith, the farmer and family store all those planted seeds away into the places that are used to pay the bills and finance future dreams. As the rich grains pour out and are put away under the brisk fall winds, the farmer is already planting his next seeds of faith.

The circle complete, and beginning again.

Wishing all of America’s farm families a safe planting season.

You may also like:

10 Things You May Not Know About Farmers

I’m More Than Just a Farmer’s Wife

To The Lonely Mama at Harvest Time

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