The Israelites had manna.

I have … zucchini.

Every day they collected this unusual  food.  It was white  like a coriander seed and tasted like a honey wafer.

Every day I walk outside for the long green THING. Yes, the inside is white and full of seeds.  It does not taste like honey.  It is bland.

No matter what, the Israelites had daily provision from God.

No matter what, every day we would find more zucchini.  It was a daily thing provision from God

The Israelites did what fallen man does best, they complained about the manna and longed for what they didn’t have.

I did the exact same thing.  When I saw all the zucchini day after day, I complained.  I complained because growing an abundance of zucchini was NOT my goal.  I intended to grow a plethora of green beans and tomatoes.  You may wonder why I planted so many zucchini plants?  It is simple.  The plants were a gift from my plain friend.  (Yes, I acknowledged  in an earlier post that  my plain friend’s gift of corn was really a gift from God.  That was different!!  I wanted corn.  I didn‘t want or need zucchini.)

Instead of being grateful, I complained to my husband.  Heavy rains drowned a substantial part of green beans on the west side of the garden.  The plants  yellowed, later turned crispy, and died.  The Zucchini, however,  grew more succulent leaves and became mammoth-like.  I wanted more than just Zucchini. My ambition was to can tomatoes and green beans this year, not  zucchini.  My complaints resembled the Israelites.  They failed to be thankful for what God gave them. The wanted what they did not have.   I wanted what I did not have … yet!

My ingratitude  impacted my whole family.  My daughter was pouting in the kitchen.  I  asked her what was wrong.  Her daddy had just delivered some news and she responded, “For breakfast every day, it is zucchini, zucchini, zucchini…”

Can you tell?  We have a fantastic crop of zucchini this year.  It doesn’t matter where you look you will find a zucchini in our home.  There is one on the window sill in the kitchen and one under the porch (a child is in dire need of training about where the compost pile is located).   Open the freezer and you will find 54 quarts shredded in freezer bags.  In the guest bedroom you will find 115 pints of zucchini processed in pineapple juice stacked in boxes. We have made brownies, breads and breakfast casseroles with zucchini.  There are some in buckets near the table waiting to be processed.  I surveyed the garden before dark.  Some of the zucchini plants were dying.  I let out a  hearty “yee haw”.   Then I felt guilty.  God has provided for us through this garden.  It is our manna of sorts.    I wondered if the Israelites converted manna into a variety of dishes.  Keith Green wrote a song and the lyrics go like this:

What…Oh no, manna again?
Oh, manna waffles….
Manna burgers…
Manna bagels…
Fillet of manna…
Mannacoti…
Bamanna bread!

Gardening has its highs and lows.  With each seed poked in the ground one must take a step in faith.  There is so much work and there are uncontrollable forces of nature that impacts the final harvest.   We can set goals, our own goals for the season’s end.  Despite good goals and excellent follow through, a gardener may have to face unrealized dreams. How does one face foiled plans gracefully?  I don’t know, don’t ask me.  I griped and complained about all the squash.  Keith Green’s song resonates with me once again.

Well we once complained for something new to munch.
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch.
Ooh, such fire and smoke.
Can’t God even take a joke…Huh?….(NO!)

Complaining about what God gives us is no joke.  I am thankful God extended His mercy toward me instead of His wrath.  Indeed, I deserved to be swallowed up. I accepted  corn as a gift from Him through our friends.  But, I deemed the zucchini a curse.  God  still graciously gave  what I didn’t deserve.  Just a week after I complained, our green beans produced enough for us to can 107 quarts.  We have canned  20 quarts of tomato sauce so far.  The tomatoes are  now starting to turn  ripe.

Setting goals on the farm is a good and noble thing.  However, sometimes we can get so fixed on a goal that distractions or detours become major debilitating  irritations.  It is so important to be flexible on the farmstead and to be grateful for what God gives us.  An ungrateful attitude is much like the tomato worms I find.  The worm starts boring into the fruit with a small hole.  In just a few days, the entire fruit is rotten and worthless.  This is the kind of spiritual fruit I produce when I give way to complaining.   May we all strive to be thankful for the harvest God gives us.  May our attitudes be a pleasing fruit to others and to Him who cares so mercifully for us.

Udderly His,

The Kansas Milkmaid