Harvesting

Before there is a harvest, there must first be a seed. The seeds we reap today were planted long ago, often with faith, patience, and perseverance. Truly, we reap what we sow.

During our recent holiday in Suffolk, we stayed at a very quiet cottage, surrounded by hay fields.

The hay seemed to stand as a testament to seeds planted long ago, now bearing fruit in the height of the season. Golden and abundant, it swayed gently in the breeze, heavy with grain and ready for harvest—a quiet reminder that patient labour and unseen growth always have their time of fulfilment.

Then, within days of our arrival, the machines rolled into the fields and the harvest began. They moved steadily across the fields, raising clouds of dust, the churning sound carrying well into the night – but somehow, we did not mind, and it felt reassuring. Pile after pile, the hay was carefully gathered and arranged in orderly rows, each one speaking of provision, perseverance, and the reward of past efforts, labour and sacrifices endured.

By early morning, bales of hay stood beautifully dotted across the horizon, like markers of abundance. What had once been hidden in the soil had now become visible for all to see— a harvest rich and plentiful, a testimony to seeds sown long ago, a visible reminder that what was sown with patience and nurtured with faith had now come to fruition.

Yet sowing is more than simply scattering seed. We must discern what to plant—what will flourish in our lives and fulfil the purpose for which we have been called. We must consider the condition of the soil, the environment in which the seed will grow, and the tools and resources entrusted to us. Not every seed thrives in every field.

The seeds we choose to nurture matter. With care, wisdom, and consistent tending, they take root, grow strong, and in time produce an abundant harvest. When we sow with intention, cultivate with diligence, and remain steadfast through the seasons, we can look forward to reaping plentifully, bearing fruit that blesses not only our own lives but also those around us.