Spring’s arrival brings life lessons

Last Sunday, as I walked out of my front door, I saw one of my neighbors walking down to his car where his wife was waiting. Across the street, another set of neighbors was working to spruce up their planter, and they were also planting some flowers. It had been a while since we all talked, so I walked over to say “hi.”

As I approached, the neighbor climbing into his car replied, saying, “Everyone’s coming out of hibernation.”

Hmm, maybe so.

Two weeks ago, the Elders brought a birthday gift by my house. The gift was some vegetable seeds and plants for my garden.

So, on Saturday when my grandchildren, Jackson and Kendall, came to stay the night, they found the seeds. Jackson said, “Poppy, I want to help you plant the carrot seeds. Then we can pick them next week and make carrot cake.”

Hmmm. I have had Jackson and Kendall help me pick carrots before. But maybe I need to teach him more about seeds.

So, we roto-tilled the garden, measured the distance for the rows, and pounded in stakes. We ran some string to mark the rows, and then we planted carrot seeds, radish seeds, beet seeds and lettuce seeds. We also planted Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and broccoli plants.

It was more work than Jackson expected. But, maybe Jackson will learn some more about gardens.

Last weekend, when Jackson and Kendall came to stay not only Saturday night, but Friday, too, their cousins came over. The oldest three spent the night. So we had six, then five, grandkids at the house.

Kathy had invited them all, but she came home from work pretty beat. So Kathy told me, “You take care of them.”

Well, we went out to the garden and planted potatoes and peas and onions. Then Henry stayed around and helped me plant cabbage, red lettuce and cauliflower plants.

What all of these little life events have in common is that spring has arrived in Alaska. The trees now carry my favorite color of green, that light green color of new growth. The promise of new life is before us.

Soon, our roadsides will be decorated with colorful flowers. And soon our gardens and berry patches will be giving food for our tables. In spring time we know that life has a future.

God speaks to us in many ways. Obviously, God speaks through the Scriptures and the Sacraments. Most importantly, God speaks to us through the word, his son, Jesus.

But, God also speaks to us through his creation. Scripture is full of teaching about God’s truths from creation for those who will listen.

Scriptures tell us that the heavens speak of the glory of God (Psalm 19). Jesus teaches lessons from animals (Matthew 6:25-33), and from agriculture (Matthew 13). God also teaches us about the life of a disciple from the life cycle of grain and seeds.

Jesus says in John 12:24-25, “24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

Teaching may reach a head when it is taught in words. But, when we learn the truth of God from the experience of life, we more easily learn that truth in our hearts.

I pray for many people. But, I especially pray for my family. So, as I speak to my loving Lord about my grandchildren, I especially pray that they may know and believe in God’s love in Jesus. I pray that they will someday receive God’s gracious gift of eternal life in heaven.

Maybe spending time in the garden with “Poppy” and learning about patience and life will help my grandchildren learn about our Lord and His plan for our lives. “24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”