Harvest Lessons & A Giveaway

I've recently learned some more mothering lessons from my garden. You may have remembered this post. Well, I guess this time it's technically a lesson about my harvest. You see this year, I planted these cute little spinning gourds. I purchased a couple last year, and they were so much fun, I decided to grow some our own.

I started the seeds under the plant lamps in garage, so a lot of time was put into them even before planting outside...I had lots of plants so I gave some to my friend C.L. to grow in her garden. We both put the little seedlings in the garden around the same time.

A few weeks later while I was over visiting her house, I noticed a few of the little gourds on her counter. I have to admit I was quite jealous. My plants were growing sooo slowly and I was wondering if I would ever get fruit. Here she had already harvested some!

She kindly offered to give her's to me. "No, no," I said. "I'll wait and see if I get something. Although, I'm a little nervous. I planted a ton of plants and nothing yet."

Later in the summer, I did in fact reap my own little spinning gourds. In fact, I've got a large container full of at least 50. It just took my garden a little longer, apparently.

Then, it hit me. I've got to stop comparing my gourds to other people's gourds. God gave me my own special garden (my family). And my own special sprouts (Jack and Anne). And our harvest time and how we all grow  and produce fruit will always look a little bit different than other families.

Do you find yourself comparing sometimes? It's not always in a jealous way. For me, it's just sometimes, "Oh, I better start working on Anne's letters and numbers. So and so already knows how to read..." I wonder if I'm running behind or if I'm parenting correcting. And sometimes it's really unreasonable too, because I often forget that two of her very closest gal pals are actually about 1.5 years older. So they are all at different stages.

Anyway, the next time I start to compare, I'm going to remember this gourd-y lesson God revealed to me and say, "Stop comparing gourds."

GIVEAWAY: Want a reminder not to compare "your gourds to other people gourds?" Leave a comment between now and Friday and I'll draw a name. The winner will get a little box of spinning gourds in the mail. Believe me, little hands will have a blast spinning them around.

Comments

[Joanne (The Simple Wife)]

Love you, friend. And, yes please, I'd love some spinning gourds. Not much fall happening in 100-degree Phoenix.

J.

[Vicki]

You are so right in the comparing yourself with others. I have found myself doing that with my family and how the kids turned out. But I have learned that every family has their issues and problems. God has placed me where I am for a reason and I need to trust him in all things at all times.

[JennyD]

As I read this, I keep thinking about the gourd character (or is there more than one?) from Veggie Tales! Such good points, Janna, as usual, and I do the same thing--regarding how my kids BEHAVE more than anything. Constant struggle!!

[Amy]

J,
I think we all compare from time to time..it is not a good habit, but it is normal. I find myself comparing to you, but instead I just steal your great ideas and use them with my gourds..:)and then pass them on to others. By the way, Lauren was saying today, that she has not seen much of Anne and wanted to invite her over.
A

[Amy]

oh yeah. CL told me today that at the library, she ran into a mom whose 2 and half year old son was reading sight words he had learned from a video. That kid probably potty trained at 1.

[Barbara Watkins]

Dear Janna, I wanted to tell you how much I love your writings and I think your kids are so adorable. Thank you for all that you share with your readers and please put my name in the hat for the spinning gourds.

[Kristen]

Spinning gourds?? Never heard of them! Sounds so cool. And yes, comparing is hard. But I do like comparing my fam to yours because I like how our families are so similar with kids and ages. I really hope you and I have the same sex baby with the next ones. :) Love you.

[Bobbi]

I love how you said it's not a jealousy thing...cuz it really isn't...yet, at the same time it's not good. My gourds are precious and MINE...Never heard them called "spinning" gourds before...but they're cute!

[Angie]

Great reminder, Janna. I loved this post!

[dymphna]

it's human nature to compare ourselves to others, but what a beautiful lesson you learned in your garden. Thanks for sharing.