Summer’s Bounty
“Taste and see that the LORD is good.”
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
I’ve been studying the book of Revelation in preparation for teaching a women’s Bible study this Fall. Nashville Bible teacher Paige Brown says that Revelation is a picture book, not a puzzle book. Today’s Bible Bits post is more picture book than prose, but it’s just a glimpse and taste of our summer and the bounty of God’s goodness toward our family.
We celebrated Charlie’s first birthday last week and he finally got his first taste of sugar when his Mama handed him a cupcake. A picture is worth a thousand words. Charlie loved it!
We’re also enjoying summer’s fresh vegetables from our local farm market. Silver Queen corn, fried okra, field peas, and Heirloom tomatoes remind me of my grandparents’ farm. I laugh each time I hear the current phrase "farm to table." Sixty years ago, our "farm to table" experience was to go to Granny's garden; pick our corn, peas, okra, and tomatoes; wash and cook them; and then eat -- all in the space of an hour! We were living "farm to table" before farm to table became cool. I do appreciate, however, the convenience of now purchasing my vegetables instead of picking them!
A recent beach trip with my sister-in-law led to the discovery of a new favorite restaurant off the beaten path outside of Foley. The Tin Top Restaurant on the Bon Secour bay has a beautiful new location, great customer service, and delicious grouper and fried green tomatoes. Of course, no summer Alabama beach trip is complete without a stop in Clanton for Chilton County peaches!
Beyond our culinary delights, we’re also enjoying time with our grandchildren this summer. Each child is an answer to years of prayers. It’s a joy to have beach sleepovers and impromptu ice cream trips; to build sandcastles and hunt seashells; to watch a grandchild experience putting her foot in ocean bubbles for the first time. Birdie James’ language continues to roll off her tongue while Poppie has learned to walk. Mary Clayton’s swim skills continue to improve while Julia and Caroline tackle new adventures beyond dance & cheer. Each developmental milestone brings me great joy and delight, not just in their new skills, but in God’s goodness and the bounty of our blessings.
When James Bruce died four years ago, I clung to one verse that I repeated over and over: “You are good and what you do is good” (Psalm 119:68). God’s goodness is an essential characteristic of His nature. Special needs parenting and James Bruce’s death didn’t feel good, but God is always good. Because God is good, we can be confident that in all things He is working for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28, John 9:3).
Joy and gratitude have accompanied this summer’s bountiful blessings. None of it is earned. All are God’s good gifts. Along with the prophet Jeremiah (586 BC), I can truly testify that God has turned my “mourning into gladness and given me comfort and joy instead of sorrow. We have been satisfied with God’s abundance and filled with his bounty” (Jeremiah 31:13-14). Laura Black’s words continue to remind me that “God is always good and we are always loved.”