Thanks For The Harvest

 

"The earth has yielded its harvest in evidence of God's approval;
God, even our own God, will bless us."
(Psalm 67:6)

The Fruits Of Her Labor
(2016)

John Sloane

The season is over, the rush and struggle of growing and saving crops
is past for another year, and the time has come when we pause and reverently
give thanks for the harvest.  For it is not to our efforts alone that our measure of
success is due, but to the life principle in the earth and the seed,
to the sunshine and to the rain-to the goodness of God.

We may not be altogether satisfied with the year's results, and we can do
a terrific amount of grumbling when we take the notion.  But I am sure we all
know in our hearts that we have a great deal for which to be thankful.
In spite of disappointment and weariness and perhaps sorrow,
His goodness and mercy does follow us all the days of our lives.

As the time approaches when we shall be called upon by proclamation
to give thanks, we must decide whether we shall show our thankfulness 
only by overeating at the Thanksgiving feast.  That would seem a rather
curious way of showing gratitude-simply to grasp greedily what is given!

When a neighbor does us a favor, we show our appreciation of it by doing
him a favor in return. Then when the Lord showers favor upon us, how much
more should we try to show our gratitude in such ways acceptable to Him,
remembering always the words of Christ,

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these,
ye have done it unto Me."

"Thanks For The Harvest"
(November 1921)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1867-1957)
Prolific American writer

Taken from the book,
Little House In The Ozarks
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler
The Rediscovered Writings
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Edited by Stephen W. Hines
(1991 Guideposts Edition)