Blackberries

I have a “thing” about blackberries, brambles really. I think it is a gift, but I possess a super human ability to demolish bramble patches. My idea of a perfect summer afternoon involves a pair of sharp pruning shears, a perpetually full teapot and an endless supply of 30 gallon yard waste bags. Eerie I know, but being a superhero isn’t all about conformity. Ask my last landlord, and he will tell you that while I was his tenant, I cleared one third of his entire property. And not those baby brambles that goats munch either. We are talking about monster brambles that eat storage sheds, climb trees and devour small children and their Frisbees. It took me two years, but when I had finished a beautiful lawn replaced land that had been unusable for 10 years.
To tell you the truth, no one knows that I am a superhero posing as quasi-rumpled homeschooling Mum. Most of my friends just think I’m weird. The question I get most often when I finish recounting epic tales of bramble domination is, “why on earth are you doing all that work? You don’t even own the property!” My answer is simple; I am taking my place in God’s economy.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.Colossians 3:23

Jehovah-jireh is one of the many glorious names of our Risen Lord. “The Lord will provide,” is the name that describes the heart of our God who is interested in meeting the needs of His creation. As many families feel the pinch of economic uncertainty we must continue to walk in faith and invest in God’s economy, for only the things of God are unshakeable. We are directed “not to worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (Matt 6:31-32).” The Lord is interested in supplying the needs of His people, and if you are willing to listen to the word of the Lord, you too, can take your part in His generosity.

A friend of my husband recently invited us to spend several weeks at her beach home. As our friend took us on a tour of the grounds, it took me all of five minutes to find the blackberry patch. “And this is my dad’s, but he doesn’t use it anymore,” she said, pointing to a large greenhouse on the corner of the property. The greenhouse stood about 10 feet high and the south side was covered with huge blackberry trailers. “In fact, if we ever get it out we’ll take it apart and give it away. It still has some good life in it.” She pointed to the 30x30 patch of scrub land, “If we napalm this stuff first.” I had stopped listening by this point. I was already envisioning my angle of attack. If I started cutting prickles from the south west side, my children could bring me tea without dying in an accidental performance of Brer Rabbit.

The weather did nothing to cooperate as I set to clearing the land. It was rainy and cold on the days I started clipping but I didn’t care. I was a pioneer clearing land, noble and valiant in my efforts to feed my family before winter set in and killed us all. I was learning important lessons, wrought by experience. Lessons such as: don’t swing a pick axe over your head in an uncontrolled manner. That sharp end will fair near crack your spine when it makes contact. Or more importantly, make sure you tie your shoes properly when clearing land. Because if you should accidentally fall into a hole in your blackberry patch and lose your shoe; the word regret will take on a depth of meaning you never knew possible. Important information all pioneers need to know.

It didn’t take too long to get the land cleared, and when I was finished, I let our friend know I had cleared out the blackberries. She was equal parts amazed and perplexed when she came across to view the yard. “You really didn’t need to do all of that! What a lot of work. Do you know someone who wants the greenhouse?”

…the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 21:26

Actually, I did know someone who wanted the greenhouse, someone who had wanted a greenhouse for as long as she could remember: a fabulous Canadian, whose humble life quest was to stop Americans from making tea in the microwave. Sadly for me, I knew the greenhouse was to go to someone else the instant I saw it. I had the sense I was to do the work because the greenhouse was not to sit rotting in the corner of the garden. It was a matter of stewardship and my friend was being a good steward. The Lord wanted it to go to a family that would be blessed. I was enjoying the privilege of staying at a waterfront home because someone else had worked hard to provide it. I was taking my part in providing a blessing for someone else.

I wish I could tell you that I happily praised God when I realized I was going participate in a greenhouse adoption. I didn’t…at first. First, I called my sister-in-law and lamented that I was going to help give away the $4000 greenhouse of my dreams. I pouted, fussed and generally acted like a twerp for about ten minutes. Then, I dutifully prayed, repented for being a selfish piggy monster and released my sister from my pity party. I had a greenhouse to place.

And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

I had quite a few inquires when I posted the greenhouse, most of which fell through within the first few hours. This was a grown up greenhouse that needed a full sized yard. Then I received an email and I knew the greenhouse had found its home. A dear friend, who I hadn’t seen in 6 months, would love the greenhouse if it was still available. This precious woman has been in the Refiner’s fire for more than a year now, and all she could do in her email was praise the Lord for His provision. She and her girls had asked the Lord specifically for a greenhouse two weeks previously, and her children were astonished that the Lord would answer their prayers so quickly. Aren’t children awesome? God loves little people.

What followed was one of the loveliest Saturdays I have spent in more than a year. My husband and I spent the morning honing our communication skills as we dismantled the greenhouse. That afternoon, my friend and her family came over and spend a fabulous afternoon by the beach, munching cookies and drinking coffee. We shared tales of life’s unexpected turns, overcoming disappointed hearts, and the provision of God. I experienced refreshment that I never could have imagined and received far more thanks than I ever could have deserved.

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:24-25

And so Dearest Mummy how is your heart this spring? Has winter been long and dreary? Do you have closets to clean? Are there clothes that no longer fit, dishes that you love but don’t use? Do you have fears in the corners of your heart and worries about your future? May I challenge you to dare to be generous and surrender all these things to your Risen Lord? Allow Him to lighten your load, sow in faith and reap in joy. It really does work.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Happy Spring!!
With many blessings to you and your family,
KB