Plan, Plant, and Reap Harvest

Delores Topliff

All seeds planted grow because they contain life. The only reason they won’t grow is if they’re kept sealed in unopened packages and not planted. I like this song:


God is a farmer, He planted a garden, the invisible things of Him are thereby clearly seen,

For the whole creation is a revelation of the spiritual principles of Father God,

And the most important principle of all is what you sow you reap.

Whatsoever you sow, that shall you also reap, there is no greater truth, there is no other way.

For the whole creation is a revelation of the spiritual principles of Father God,

And the most important principle of all is what you sow you reap.

We think farmers’ labors begin in spring when they hop on tractors to plow and plant fields. During summer they cultivate and irrigate. In fall comes harvest, and afterward, fields are disked with stubble plowed under to enrich soil for the next season.

My friend launched space satellites for GE but then moved to Canada to help us establish a remote Christian farm. In the process he shepherded 102 Romney sheep which my younger son eventually took over. I didn’t initially regard this man as handsome. But as time went by and I saw his faithful consistent kindness to animals and people, he became the most handsome man I’d ever known.

He taught our high school boys agriculture; most impressive was his farming calendar. He explained that farmers work all twelve months but their most important season is winter planning. The entire rest of the year depends on plans made then. Instead of jetting to Hawaii, which most farmers can’t afford anyway, this is their critical time to build or repair equipment, plan fields, select and/or prepare seeds (cut potatoes into eyes), help spring livestock birth, and be off and running. If thorough winter planning isn’t done, the rest of the year suffers.

For writers, too, our most critical part time is our pre-writing planning. Don’t be like people I’ve heard of who “sow wild oats but pray for crop failure.” Instead, select and pay the price for your writing seed idea packet. When the weather’s right, open it and plant using hard work and faith to do your best. After you’ve done your part, ask God to bless and bring rich harvest.

What’s the most important season of your writing calendar? Which part’s your favorite?