Make Hay While the Sun Shines

We had a beautiful week! The farmers finally got into the fields and we were able to get tomatoes and peppers (both hot and sweet) in the garden. Then we took a few days to work inside cleaning the pantry and the storage room.

Although they were both in desperate need of a deep cleaning, we should have spent those three days pushing hard to get the rest of the garden in.
Round Hay Bale At Dawn
The old adage “make hay while the sun shines” is quite true. Farmers know that when the conditions are right for making hay they need to do it! They drop everything and focus on what is important, the hay crop. Once the rain comes, their crop is ruined.

Our conditions were right for planting. The garden was dry, the mulch was on and the sun was shining. We had planned to spend Thursday in the garden since the forecast was for rain later in the evening. Instead, the rain arrived at day break and changed everything.

We have since had a storm every morning for the past three days with heavy rains in the forecast over the weekend. We’ve had over an inch and a half of rain in the last 24 hours, with more on the way. It will take some time for the garden to dry out after that.

So, I have a clean storage room and pantry, but the seeds I purchased to feed my family are still sitting on the shelf and not in the garden growing. That was a mistake.

Did I learn a lesson in this? Oh yes! I realized that once again I had let the urgent take the place of the important. My priorities were mixed up.

That happens a lot in life doesn’t it? House work seems more important than reading to the children. Making supper trumps taking the time to listen to the woes of a seven-year-old. Checking emails takes priority over spending time in the Word.

I remember reading the story of a busy mom with several little ones. She had a fussy one who just wanted to be held, but she needed to get a meal on the table. So, with a little one hanging on her leg, she proceeded with the meal preparations.

A few minutes she looked down and saw that her child had actually fallen asleep sitting on her foot and hanging on to her leg.

Her heart was broken. She turned the burners off and lifted her precious sleeping baby into her arms for some cuddling.

So often the urgent things around us; the laundry, the dishes, the bills, the messes; all keep us from the truly important things in life; time with our husband, our children, and our Lord.

What’s important in your life today? Don’t let the urgent take the place of the important.

Make hay while the sun shines!