The Unlikely Season

Once a week I meet up with a group of master gardeners to volunteer in our community. We have an area in one of our city parks that we call, “The Teaching Garden.” Yesterday was a productive day of fall clean up. We took down the scarecrows, pumpkins, and gourds from our fall display and pulled a few weeds. Our chrysanthemums have finished blooming but the plants are still green. We removed the spent flowers and left the plants alone for now.

Then, the fun started. We set up a large artificial Christmas tree and began making plans for our “Christmas garden.” We will meet again to hang lights, ornaments and add a few finishing touches. Although this is a busy time of year there is something about giving my time that is refreshing for me. When I got home from The Teaching Garden, I finished some work in my own yard. The air had a little chill to it but the sunshine was warm.I moved all the annual and tender tropical plants into the greenhouse for the winter. I planted a few more pansies near the front door. There is something special about fall planting. Many people do not know that the fall season is actually the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The combination of cool air temperatures and warm soil temperatures encourage root development. The rest of the tree is not actively growing so there is less stress and less chance of transplant shock. When I worked in garden centers it was very difficult to convince people to plant in the fall. They had a misconception that because they could not see the tree or shrub growing that it was not thriving. In reality fall planting almost always insures that the plant will grow and flourish.

‘…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

The fall planting misconception is a lot like the way we address the trials in our lives. The enemy would love nothing more than for us to just accept everything that comes our way. His goal is to cause us to give up and quit on God. He wants us to believe what we see, think or feel instead of what the Word of God says.

Many years ago my husband, Randy, was working on a roof. We had had a lot of rainfall and the mulch bed his ladder was standing in was very soft. At the very moment that he was about to step from the ladder onto the roof the ladder gave way. He fell fifteen feet, landing on the ladder. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital with a dislocated left shoulder and a huge laceration on his arm. His prognosis was not good. Our orthopedic surgeon told him that he would not recover. He told my husband that his left arm had severe nerve damage and that it would be useless and hang limp at his side for the rest of his life. Our doctor was telling us the facts of our situation, as he should. But, we chose to believe God’s Word over our situation. Randy said, “I am not going to accept this. I say that I will recover and that my left hand will be stronger than my right hand.” (Note: my husband is right handed, so, by nature his right hand was always stronger.)

“For I will restore health to you And I will heal your wounds,’ says the Lord…” Jeremiah 30:17

What followed was fifteen weeks of physical therapy. In addition to his therapy appointments, Randy asked for a list of every exercise he could possibly do at home on his own. I”ll never forget one day in particular, six weeks into the therapy. Randy was sitting in our living room he held in his hand a three pound dumbbell. He was trying with everything he had to do just one curl with his left hand holding that small amount of weight. But, he could not. I looked over at our teenage sons and saw tears in their eyes. All their lives their dad was a strong man. He has always been fit and trim and worked out everyday…until that accident. Randy looked up at our sons and said, “Guys, I need your help. I need you to stand in the gap in faith for me.” That night we gathered around our kitchen table and had communion. Our sons laid hands on their dad and prayed for him.

“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed [happy and fortunate] is the man whose quiver is filled with them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies at the gate.” Psalm 127:4-5

That was the turning point. The next day Randy was able to do more exercises then he had the days before. Everyday he gained strength. At his last appointment the doctor tested Randy’s grip strength in each of his hands. His left hand was stronger than his right. The doctor shook his head and said, “You know, I never expected you to recover from this. I have seen patients with less severe injuries than you had who never recovered. I can’t explain it.” Randy said, “I can explain it…It was God.”

“And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” John 8:32

The seasons of our lives are always changing but one thing remains the same. God’s Word will never change. No matter what this day, this week, this month, or this year may bring; God and His Word is still true. Circumstances may very well be fact, but God’s Word is Truth and it is that Truth that overcomes the facts.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Press on, my friends your victory is near. You are not alone, Jesus is right there beside you just as He promised He would always be.