Summer Squash Turned Orange

By Hally Franz –

The exhibit hall doors opened promptly at 5 p.m. on Day One of the county fair, and eager children scurried in to see what ribbons they’d earned on this year’s 4-H projects. Among my son’s were two posters (building a rabbit hutch and planting a garden), a wooden bookshelf and two plates of homegrown vegetables. While he’ll be sharing his rabbit-cage-building skills and garden-planting savvy with 4-Hers at the state level, his tomatoes and squash garnered only red ribbons. The judge’s note on the squash tag said simply, “Too far along.” Apparently, the bumpy surface and slightly orange shade indicated a squash past peak.

Because squash plants grow easily and abundantly, it seemed a good bet they’d be ready for the fair. Green promises sprouted quickly from the ground once the seeds were sown. Within weeks, squash plants were sprawling over into rows of onions and tomatoes. Then almost overnight, yellow produce materialized in the mounds beneath the stems, stretching in size, morphing in color and pimpling up before we finished one row of weeding.

Isn’t it interesting how our children sometimes mature in fits and starts too? Their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth isn’t always consistent. A quick scan of a middle school classroom proves that. Sometimes, there seems to be little happening in their development. Other times, we glance away and turn back to find they’ve stretched out and are sporting an unfortunate pimple or two.

While my son needs some coaching on writing proper thank-you notes to the buyers of his rabbit, he needs no help selecting and purchasing a cordless drill with his earnings. From the silliness and angst of a pre-teen, occasionally there springs forth a puzzling comment of real maturity, thoughtfulness and appreciation. And, on more Sundays lately, I see wheels turning behind his dark brown eyes as he listens to our minister and considers his next step in his walk with Jesus.

I might miss a moment or two looking away, but I’m assured that neither he nor I nor any of us will ever grow “too far along” in our spiritual development. Unlike our human bodies that begin to deteriorate in our twenties or something (clearly, not a statistic worth committing to memory), our souls, hearts and minds will always grow stronger and healthier during a life-long relationship with our Lord. That promise brings more joy than a few squash sprigs poking from the ground and comfort in knowing I’ll never look like I overdid the spray-on tan.

PRAYER: Lord, encourage me daily to develop a more complete understanding of You and Your Word and a more intimate relationship with You, maturing in faith now and throughout my life.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18, KJV).

Bless the Beasts, the Children and Women Like Abigail

By Cynthia Ruchti –

I have this friend (no, really I do!) who is struggling in her relationship with her husband. He’s not an ax-murderer or an adulterer, so she can’t just walk away. Nor would she want to. He’s a good man, but they’re not seeing eye-to-eye right now on a few dozen issues.

My mind flipped through the pages of Scripture and stopped to rest on passage after passage that revealed incidents of women who wrestled with less-than-ideal situations with the men in their lives.

That formed the basis of this prayer on her behalf. I’m posting it here because I’m pretty sure she’s not alone.

Great God of women with issues (of blood or otherwise),

…of women with jerks for husbands (like Abigail with Nabal),

…of women who are strong but misunderstood (like Deborah),

…of women who don’t like the choices their husbands make (like Sarai),

…of women whose husbands fail to take seriously their role as spiritual leader in the home (like Eve and Adam),

…of women who through the Adamic curse get their insides ripped out in childbirth while the men are “burdened” with oh-so-traumatic sweat and weeds, poor things,

…of women who are mentioned as followers of Christ and contributors to His work…but their husbands are not (like so many New Testament women),

…of women who “go to the tomb” because they care so deeply and have to do something with their sadness,

…of women who “happen” to be in the Garden to witness angel-speak because they care so deeply ,

…of women who put the pieces together when they hear that Jesus is alive, even though the men closest to them—who ought to know better—don’t get it,

…of women who wait for their husbands to return from war, to show up after work, to show up emotionally, and to “get it,”

PRAYER: Great God of women who from the beginning of time have found their strength—and their reward—in You, please place Your Hand of enduring blessing on the heads of the women who endure. Grant them a double dose of heart-peace for every bucket of patience they pour over their homes and relationships. Refill their reservoirs of grace, reservoirs so easily drained by life and people. May they find in You an inexhaustible measure of what their hearts most need—to be understood, appreciated, cherished, protected, encouraged, wanted, treasured, approved, believed, honored, embraced, covered and well-loved.

“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” (John 20:15a KJV).

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer/producer of THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio ministry and president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She is the author of They Almost Always Come Home (Abingdon Press Fiction) and the soon-to-be-released The Heart’s Harbor in A Door County Christmas novella collection. Cynthia writes stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark (www.cynthiaruchti.com).

I Know That One

By Cynthia Ruchti –

My granddaughter (6) spent the Sunday morning worship service on my lap instead of in her children’s church service that day a couple of years ago. A dozen excuses seemed to boil down to the fact that she just needed to be close to me for a while. Seemed a good enough reason for me. Read more

Hygiene Highway to Heaven

By Hally Franz –

“Ivan’s dental hygiene has reached a level of some concern…We may have to discontinue treatment in order to repair damage …Gums may have to be surgically …” After nearly completing the payments for my son’s orthodontic treatment and now only a few months from the anticipated braces removal date, these statements sent me into dental care overdrive and near death by embarrassment. The letter came from our town’s primary orthodontist, and a former schoolmate of mine. (Hence, the feelings of mortification.) Read more

The Battle for Peace

By Hally Franz –

As I observed my daughter and nephew molding the wet Atlantic sand of a Florida beach, I felt something rare and wonderful. These two sand-lovers dug holes that quickly collapsed when water broke through their gritty walls, and they erected castles that were as much fun to tear down as they were to create. Read more

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