I’m a disgrace to my Iowa farm heritage. Is it possible to turn a black thumb green? On Saturday I took the first step in attempting the impossible. I went to a gardening class, and sat next to women from Michigan and Wisconsin. We all agreed that growing things in central Florida is a mystery.

Two words from the speaker revealed our problem, growing seasons. Florida’s growing seasons are totally mixed up. When northern farmers are harvesting and settling in for the winter, Florida farmers prepare for the prime-growing season! The northerners in the room had visions of tomato plants wilting in the July heat and wondered how we could’ve missed something so painfully obvious… did I mention my black thumb?!

I’ll let you know how my gardening journey progresses. Today I’m planting broccoli, lettuce and some herbs. In February and March I’ll plant corn, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, snap peas and beans. If anything actually makes it to the table it will be a miracle, but hey, miracles do happen!

People have growing seasons too. There’s a time to let the soil of our lives rest and re-coop needed nutrients and there’s a time to plant the seeds and help them grow. Do you know what season you’re in right now?

Our chaotic culture rarely offers opportunities for a season of rest. Many try to produce success from soil that’s sucked dry and wonder why their “garden” is falling apart. It’s easy to keep planting the seeds and working the garden without thought to God’s plan and growing season. (This can be especially true with our kids. We try to force growth in one area when God is actually planting something else. As a result, we can end up stifling both.)

God has growing seasons especially designed to maximize the “garden” He’s planting in our hearts. He is our Master Gardener and He promises to produce a bumper crop for all who let Him. Your growing season is probably different than mine and that’s okay. The question we must constantly ask ourselves is this: Who’s tending our garden? A fruitful “life” garden is dependent on how we answer that one question.

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.  They are like trees plated along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Psalm 1:2-3 (NLT)

P.S. Anyone have suggestions for where to find good vegetable seeds?