“Soil & Soul” | Originally Published February 23, 2023
Did you know that I make my own compost to feed the garden beds around my house? It requires patience, endurance, consistency and a little bit of muscle when it’s time to shovel and haul that black gold around my yard.
I’m one of those investment minded individuals who enjoys the hard work resulting in rewards. That trait combined with the fact that I’m a saver, makes the composting process fun for me. Not only does it give value and purpose to the produce that spoiled in my fridge before I had time to make that healthy salad, the process allows me to grow more delicious fruits and veggies in my own backyard at no additional cost!
No additional monetary cost, that is. It does, however, require my time and my energy. But the end result is worth the effort!
I mix grass clippings and fallen leaves together with food scraps and the right amount of moisture and heat to create the perfect environment for the elements to decompose. Over time, my compost pile contains rich nutrients for my soil to flourish! I’m able to grow healthy and yummy food that will eventually leave behind its little scraps that get tossed into the compost pile for the next “batch”… rinse and repeat… literally!
This cycle is such a rewarding process; however, in the winter, it’s just so cold and wet outside. How badly do I really want to go out and work on the compost? If (and when) I occasionally dismiss the chore, the end result will be delayed. The food scraps and grass clippings will eventually breakdown without my help, but if I want the most compost to feed my no-till garden beds, I need to be adamant about doing the inconvenient work, even when I don’t feel like it, so that my soil is prepared for spring.
When the weather starts warming up, taking care of the compost and garden is so much more fulfilling, in my opinion. The strength and cardio it takes to amend the beds and prep the soil feels good to my body and my mind. Soaking up the vitamin D is an added bonus! But before that time comes, I only get glimpses of the colorful life that’s waiting to burst out of the ground come springtime. I love the sky showers during winter that help to nourish my beds, and I love my little veggie babies that sprout on my kitchen windowsill, but other than that, it’s hard to get excited for what’s to come.
And yet . . . I still collect my food scraps and grass clippings, and labor over my compost collection.
Why?
Because I know what’s to come. I know how much more rewarding the new life of spring will be after the months of enduring the mundane dedication to the inconvenient work. With enough compost to feed my avocado tree, I can expect to see so many new branches stretching toward the light. My tomato harvest will be abundant and my lettuce and carrots will provide steady salad selections. Not to mention, the boys love picking fresh fruits and veggies from the vines to snack on while they play.
A new method I’ve implemented this year is the no-till gardening approach. For every soil-loving weed-hater like me, this seems to be the answer! No more back-breaking soil tilling to prepare for planting. This process just requires a lot of cardboard (thank you, Amazon holiday deliveries) and plenty of compost.
Well, wh’da’ya’know!
My springtime reward is greater when I put in the time and energy during the winter . . . even when it’s inconvenient.
Allow me to shift into a more sensitive topic. One that has been on my mind a lot recently.
I’ve been imagining heaven on a regular basis. I’ve had several friends and loved ones move on from their earthly home to their eternal home in heaven. This has given me the desire to look through my understandings of what heaven will be like, and imagine all the good things to come.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
. . .
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
. . .
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 21:3-6, 10-11, 22:1-2 NIV
Come, Lord Jesus. Come!
When I can imagine all the healing and restoration in heaven, the beauty, the vibrant colors, the abundant life of pleasure… my sadness caused by the loss of loved ones doesn’t feel so heavy, because I can imagine myself with them in eternity! When I picture myself standing shoulder to shoulder with sisters and brothers in the faith as we worship with Jesus on the right side of His Father…our Father… on the thrown of heaven…the image deepens my corporate worship on Sunday mornings as well as my individual worship throughout the rest of my week.
“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred [or the sinner ] will be considered accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.
Isaiah 65:17-25 NIV
Unfortunately, my thoughts eventually have to return to reality, and reality doesn’t get much easier. The long, weary road this side of heaven is isolating and lonely. But I know what’s on the other side of earth’s horizon into heaven. I know Who is there waiting for me. Keeping heaven in my thoughts gives me purpose and hope as I walk life’s lonely road.
Besides, where else will we find other weary travelers who need directions to this Hope of Living Water and eternal beauty waiting for them at the end of this lonely, desert road?
As followers of Christ, we are challenged to spread the good news of the gospel so that others know of the eternity that awaits them if they would only choose Jesus. This call to Christians is known as The Great Commission.
It can seem impossible to have to remain behind and do this work out of obedience when the people who mean the most to us have already moved into heaven. But it helps me to think of it as the hard winter work of composting that prepares the the soil for harvest. It provides a little more purpose in the pain.
One more day to prepare the soil for spring.
One more day to prepare the souls for salvation.
I am confident that an eternity of heaven is worth the time we have left to stay behind on earth, even in our grief, in an effort to invite one more person with us before we go.
Just one more.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:14-18 NIV
In The Garden (Acapella) | Anthem Lights
How Great Thou Art | Carrie Underwood (Official Performance Video)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10 ESV
Updated March 22, 2025
To say I’ve taken a small break from my gardening to accommodate our rapid-moving life would be an understatement! Over the last two years we’ve added basketball, then gymnastics and youth group worship team rehearsals, tap dancing and sourdough to our family schedule! Yes, sourdough is counted as one of my extracurriculars… It takes just as much time as the boys’ sports teams, so it counts! I’m actually currently making sourdough pizzas in between paragraphs!
Like I tell my budgeting students, it’s important to be intentional with our time. So I’ve been trying to improve my homemaking skills, being intentional to make healthy food for my family. (Sidenote, Adam is the kitchen king. He creates. I simply follow a recipe . . . if I have to . . . I’ve had many anxiety episodes in the kitchen trying to make meals over the years!) That being said, sourdough is a HUGE accomplishment for me. I’m sure you can understand why I decided to give up the garden temporarily.
There’s only so much I can cram into my To-Do List.
Our backyard is amusing to me. You can see exactly where the line has been drawn that defines my garden and composting space. But hey, the boys love our backyard jungle!
However, the arrival of spring has me feeling motivated to get back what we once had! I’ve transplanted some tomatoes that I started from seed, I’m hardening off my strawberries that I started from store-bought fruit, and I’m ready to start some more veggie seeds!
Let’s do this!
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