Those words came to mind when I watched the KU kids last night as they began working to fill up another 4' square in their garden. What is it about a pile of dirt and a shovel that can be so transforming???
As they arrived last night they were a little "attitudinal" (you know last day of school stuff) -- I found myself thinking -- can't imagine us getting much accomplished tonight.
Sensing we could have a few problems with following rules -- we made up our rules together -- they came up with some pretty creative ones ("No kicking - I asked one little five year old who gave us that one if we'd had a problem with that before -- she said no, but it's a good rule.") --then we headed for our garden plots. them racing for their kid-sized shovels and climbing on the mound of dirt --In only a few moments I watch them relax, start making new friends with kids they had only just met and began slinging dirt into the wheelbarrow. In a short time the square was full and they got to plant their own row of beans -- You'd have thought it was a priceless treasure they were burying.
In the garden - a grasshopper, a wooly worm or a butterfly captures their undivided interest. In a short time - they are dreaming of the day we'll have a pumpkin patch or how good the beans are going to be in this year's crop.
The kids absolutely LOVE the garden!
There's a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes over them in what they're making together -- creating a garden and building teamwork -- while learning about God's miracles of plant growth --and us praying for the seeds we're planting in soil of their hearts to reap a harvest of deep faith.
Some nights are pretty chaotic -- but it's a sweet conclusion to our evening when we circle up and slurp watermelon or enjoy some veggies and talk about what God is growing and how great our God is!
His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere. Isa. 61:11
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