Drop by Drop

Last year, a couple of my blogging friends talked about their "word for the year." I chose my own word (schedules), and really worked hard on that theme. 

I think I did better at scheduling than I have before, but sticking to schedules is still a difficult thing for me. (Creating them is easy!)

I'm a spontaneous person, who'd rather "go with the flow" than stick to a rigid list of tasks and the times they need to be done.

YIKES. That stresses me out to even just think about those words!

I hope I have improved over the years, and I think I HAVE, but I know that my children need a bit more structure in their lives.

"Con Amore" by Edmund Blair Leighton

The Law of the Harvest

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." ~Proverbs 20:4 KJV

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;" ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 KJV

At the beginning of this new year, I am pondering a lot about "the Law of the Harvest," and what that means to us when creating excellence in our lives, families, and homes.

I have been heavily involved in music since I was a little child. I know what it means to practice a piece of until it is "right." There are no shortcuts, no cramming that can be done to substitute daily, methodical practicing.

The same thing applies to learning many different subjects, like math, reading, and writing. And, of course, the principle of daily growth, little by little, also applies to our spirituality. 

"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." ~Alma 32:28, The Book of Mormon 

If we want a bountiful spiritual "harvest," at the end of the "season," we must do the small daily tasks of reading the scriptures, praying, pondering, and spending time with God.

The same thing can be said for our relationships with our husbands, our children, our extended families, and our friends and neighbors. What kind of relationships are we cultivating with those we love?

Bountiful Blessings

Imagine how different our world would be if we followed the "Law of the Harvest." What if we stopped demanding instant gratification? What if we had to plant/plan earlier, and work a little bit every day in order to have the resulting blessings throughout the year?

Imagine what WE, our children, and those around us could be, what we could accomplish, when we work on the most important things, little by little, day by day.

 

How great the harvest would be, indeed! This year, for 2014, I want to end with an even better harvest than I've ever cultivated before. And that will take the daily building up of my "drops of oil", one drop at a time.

Spiritually. In my relationships. In my personal study. In what I teach my children, and how I nurture them. In how I care for our home.

If I will improve just the tiniest amount each day, I know I can expect a bountiful 2014!

Love to you and yours in the new year,