When I was a kid, I never dreamed that I would like gardening as an adult. I really only remember two things about gardening when I was younger. First, I remember eating tomatoes and cucumbers out of my parent’s garden in the backyard. Second, and more important, I remember weeding the garden. Sitting or kneeling in the dirt for hours on end picking all the weeds felt like torture. Needless to say, I never thought I would have a garden of my own.

This year, in an effort to get my two year old, Ryan, outside more often and give him more things to do, I planted a small garden in a raised garden bed on my back porch. Ryan loves it. He enjoys playing in the dirt, watering the plants and regularly comments on how much the plants are growing.

The tomato plants are of specific interest to him. Not long ago, the few tiny green cherry tomatoes appeared. To a two year old, the prospect of waiting for more growth is almost too much to bear. Once found, there was an immediate desire to eat the tiny green tomatoes that had popped up on our tomato plant.

“Dad, can I eat the tomatoes now?”, Ryan playfully sings pretty every time I go outside with him. I always say the same thing, “No we have to wait until they are red. Are they red yet?”. The reply is predictable, a simple “Can I do it anyway dad?”. “No Ry, you have to wait until they are red”. And so the conversation goes, every time we go outside.

But isn’t that how we are with God as well? We keep asking Him what He is going to do, when He is going to do it and how He is going to fix our lives, the economy, our jobs, and in my case, what His plan is for His school. God, is your plan ready yet? Is it time for you to do your work? How are you going to fix this God? How am I supposed to deal with COVID-19 and remain faithful? Oh, it’s not ready yet? Can I do it anyway?

In His word, God answers as He always does. Lamentations 3:26 says “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” and in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future.”

The truth is that God is calling us to trust in His plans because His plans are good for us. We may have to wait a little while to see what He is doing, but we know that He promises that it will all work out for our good.

Lord, as a community we claim your promises. Give us patience to wait on what you have promised to do in our lives.

Justin Groff
Principal