For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Raspberry harvest. For many of you, these words bring to mind mental glimpses of fresh fruit stands or the beautiful bounty of plump, juicy fruit atop your morning yogurt parfait, perhaps.
For me, these two words bring with them a measure of strong emotions, some good and many others not so good.
I break down our year as a family into several seasons. As a CPA myself, tax season comprises the first bit of our year; January through April, to be exact. About the time that I find myself with more time at home, my husband begins gearing up for his “moment in the sun.” Pun intended.
I view our spring as a downward ramp, starting off slow in April with field work and steadily picking up speed into June until at last we all, metaphorically of course, take the giant leap into the months of July and August.
No matter how much I have mentally prepared myself, it always feels as though we’re suspended in these months for ages. They are full, taxing times in which our Daddy, the head of our household who brings steadiness to our family unit, is quite absent from the rest of us. He faces long days and even longer nights: spraying, fixing, managing, planning, forklifting, driving, sweating–you get it. When the raspberries are ready, it is GO time.
Ironically, while harvest brings busyness and a mile-long list of tasks for my God-given teammate, it brings the opposite to my plate: nothing. Let me explain…
While hubby is too busy to stop and eat a proper meal, the kids and I are home. We come to a collective standstill while we look forward to the time when we’re all together again. Our days are homebound for the most part and it is during these slow, long days and evenings alone that I find it the very hardest to, as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 puts it, “give thanks in all circumstances.”
I realize even as I type this in an effort to explain this time, discontentment knocks at the door of my heart. You see, I find myself each and every summer in a silent battle between gratitude and bitterness. Bitterness, you say? Yep.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
I’m sure you’ve heard this saying before. I can nod my head every time I consider this saying, thinking first and foremost of the mental gymnastics that summer brings. It starts small really. Thoughts of looking ahead to times of family togetherness—good thoughts. But then, a social media post with pictures of another family on vacation. Waves of jealousy come bubbling up to the surface.
Now where did those come from, I think.
Lord, help me refocus and remember to be grateful, I pray.
This is an everyday exercise, an act of submission to the will of the Lord and not my own, knowing that the devil would love nothing more than to snatch my joy, my peace, and my focus on the purpose for which I am here.
I would like today to share five heartfelt lessons from the fourteen harvest seasons that my “wagon has been hitched” to a farmer. Some tips for replacing the ugly root of a begrudgingly contented spirit with a more beautiful, thankful perspective.
It seems obvious as a believer that spending time in God’s Word is a far superior activity to scrolling social media. However, the evening hours, especially when you’re alone, somehow have a way of making a screen very tempting.
This isn’t a deep dive into all the ways in which our phones have become an addiction of sorts (though I could probably write a book on that too). It’s just a simple, gentle reminder to recall to mind what you already know: God’s Word brings peace. In its pages is balm for a weary soul, rest for a thirsty traveler, and yes–blessings for a tired mama who misses her husband’s help.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15)
I think far too often we forget what the goodness of God means. God is not good because life is easy. God is not good because your belly or vacation budget is full. He is not even good because you are able to spend time with whomever you want to, whenever you want to (family included).
He is good because He is God Himself. Good because He keeps every one of His promises, not the least of which is to mold and fashion us as His children each day more and more into His image.
He is good because, despite our weakness and our frail, self-seeking, sinful natures, He provided a way of escape; a haven of peace and rest no matter what. An answer to our biggest problem; His very own precious Son, in fact. And so, “our good” isn’t to pursue the path of least resistance here and now.
In those seasons that take more energy from you, remember this. Remember that God’s goal for your life is not comfort, but for humble sacrifice of self, and for day-by-day recognition of your reliance on the Lord for every single thing you have, every bit of who you are. He desires that the entirety of your heart and mind be oriented to His purposes and not your own; that is the purpose for which we live and breathe today.
For a busier season, pray to see the busyness as a blessing and not a curse; a time for beautiful flowers of perseverance and character to grow. Ask the Lord to satisfy your soul in Him and teach you daily to see your life as a training ground for glory and not a haven for self-pursuit and gratification.
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14)
When my kids were a little bit younger, the tasks of motherhood made it harder to have people over or bring the whole crew to another’s home. This year, I’ve made it a goal to keep inviting others into our space.
I have found that these morning conversations with another mom are occasions for the Lord to speak contentment into my heart too. I often close the door on a visit with a greater appreciation for another Christian mama, renewed by encouraging conversation and reminded anew that I am not alone. The body of Christ is a beautiful thing.
I would also add that, as often as there is opportunity, engage others on their level. It doesn’t take long in any conversation to see that everyone is facing something they would classify as difficult. Focusing on someone else’s “hard” helps us to put ourselves and our own problems aside and look for ways to bless them.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:1-3)
The world says: Your gut will guide you. Listen to your heart. Only you truly know what’s best for you.
And to that, I say: Balogne!
Often my natural inclination is to put myself first. If I give in wholeheartedly to the impatient spirit, I find that the internal dialogue goes something like this. “I’m tired of this. I need a break. I deserve a break.” And if I allow myself to continue thinking this way, it turns into much more bitterness about my role as a mom than thankfulness for it.
I find it helpful to take a moment to self-evaluate, especially on those more difficult, stressful days. Measure your gut reaction to a problem or situation against the Word of God. Pray to see the ways in which you’re silently falling for lies of our culture.
Satan is sneaky, friends. He often slips and slides his way into our daily thoughts through things that sound good at first blush. See him and point a fiery dart in his direction by stopping to consider your thought life.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
I heard a quote from Paul David Tripp a while back and it resonated with me. He says, “No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do. It’s a fact that you and I are in an endless conversation with ourselves.”
While most of us wouldn’t admit to talking out loud to ourselves, we certainly can see that our internal dialogue matters. I have found for myself that my summer dialogue easily becomes negative and far more focused on earthly matters than heavenly ones.
Speaking truth, that is God’s Word, to yourself really does help. I have found that small statements that you can repeat throughout the day or pray silently in the busyness are the most beneficial. Pick a short passage of Scripture or a Biblical truth and repeat it to yourself and to the Lord. Ask Him to continually reorient your thoughts, words, and heart to His Word and His ways.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
My prayer today is that as you read this (and as type it myself), we both are more able to clearly remember what’s important and what isn’t. I hope you find encouragement in God’s Word as you too navigate your God-given role in whatever sphere He has placed you in.
For His glory, and our good.
Kaeli is a mama of four who finds joy in running trails, journaling her thoughts, and soaking up lake days with her family. After experiencing postpartum mental health challenges following the birth of her fourth child, she created ‘Big Truths for our Little Life’, where raw honesty meets gospel hope, sharing how God’s promises hold true through every season—both the beautiful and the broken.