garden Archives - Diana Derringer

Fruit of Your Labor

December 30, 2024 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

My dad’s garden and orchard fed our family plus dozens of others. He spent years growing food and flowers as a labor of love. Dad also understood what it means to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

The fruit of your labor means the reward for your work.

Your efforts pay off. Because you refuse to give up, you bear fruit.

Long hours and hard work make you appreciate the fruit of your labor.

Farmers harvest their crops.
Gardeners enjoy vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
Students celebrate graduation.
Business owners enjoy profits.

You benefit from your investment of:

Time
Money
Muscle (mental or physical)

The harder the work the more enjoyable the fruit of your labor.

Life may give you long rows to hoe. However, you usually reap what you sow. Greater efforts result in greater rewards.

Make relationships your most important investment.

According to the Bible, the greatest commandments are to love God and love one another. The best fruit does not result from a focus on self. Rather, it grows from love and service.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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A Hill of Beans

August 17, 2020 Diana Derringer Comments 2 comments

A Hill of Beans-stick beans in a garden My grandmother often said, “That doesn’t amount to a hill of beans.” In other words, it is not worth much.

A hill of beans means something has little value.

It is not important – a dime a dozen.

Beans are fairly common and grow easily. If we don’t grow them, we can find them on most grocery shelves. They cost little. Therefore, a hill of beans is worth little. If we don’t like beans, they are worth nothing.

Several items are not worth a hill of beans:

Outdated coupons
Broken tools
Electronics no one uses

Most things don’t amount to a hill of beans. All people do.

As long as we have what we need to survive, possessions matter little. Plus, we can’t take them with us.

Rather than focus on the things we own, let’s aim to treat others well.

Show the respect we desire.
Love others as God loves.
Encourage everyone to be their best.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10 NIV).

Thanks to Darrin Jenkins for the suggestion and to Jewell Wade for the photo.

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In the Short Rows

August 26, 2019 Diana Derringer Comments 4 comments

In the Short Rows--person tilling a garden After a long hard day, most of us look forward to work in the short rows.

In the short rows means we are almost finished.

We have a certain amount of work to do, and the end is in sight.

How well I remember hoeing weeds out of our garden as a child. We had long hard rows to hoe – much work to complete. A few rows on the edge of the garden were shorter than most. Those were our favorites.

We usually look forward to reaching the short rows.

For many people Thursday and Friday are in the short rows of their work week. They look forward to those last two days before the weekend.

Other short rows include:

Authors writing the last pages of a book
Long distance drivers nearing the end of their journey
Children waiting for the last days of school

If we love what we do, we also enjoy our long rows.

Rest helps when we tire. Yet, every day becomes an adventure. We don’t believe the grass is greener on the other side. We find joy in our own garden spot of the world.

My cousin Iva loves to garden. Family and friends love when he shares his garden goodies. He sets a good example in both his work and his generosity.

Look for joy in every moment, whether in long or short rows.

“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty” (Proverbs 28:19 ESV).

Thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion and to Jewell Withers Wade for the photo.

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Green Thumb

July 4, 2016 Diana Derringer Comments 1 comment

My friend Carolyn’s husband has a green thumb.

Tim grows beautiful flowers, shrubs, trees, and other plants. His flower garden amazes me. In the middle of his garden stands an American flag. The flag serves as a symbol of the freedom we celebrate each July 4.

My thumb is definitely not green.

Most of my plants get sick and die. Therefore, I grow flowers that require little or no care.

In spite of my lack of talent, I admire the beauty of other people’s plants.

I may not know the plants’ names.
I may not be able to grow them.
However, I can enjoy them.

I am thankful for people with a green thumb. I am also thankful I don’t need a green thumb to be used in other ways.

God gives each of us our own special talents.

Like Tim’s flowers, we are all different. Yet, we can all be beautiful in our own way.

Some people work well with numbers.
Others work well with people.
Some are great planners.

Whatever our talents, green thumb or not, let’s bloom where we are planted.

“Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so” (Genesis 1:11 NIV).

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A Hard Row to Hoe

May 6, 2014 Diana Derringer Comments 8 comments

A long line of plants can be a hard row to hoe.

Gazing from one end to the other, we want to give up before we start.

My parents always believed in the value of hard work. Therefore, my sister and I began gardening at an early age. I thought those garden rows would never end. Plus, Kentucky summer temperatures often reach the 90s with humidity near 100 percent.

I recall standing in the hot sun, fuming at the cruelty of it all. I pledged that once I had a home of my own, I would never plant a garden. Famous last words!

After a few years, I realized vegetables taste better when I grow my own. Not even a farmer’s market can compete.

I also learned that if I focus on the plant of the moment, I reach the end faster. It keeps me from looking ahead with dread.

That holds true for most tasks.

Focus on what needs to be done now.

Then move to the next task. Any assignment becomes more manageable and less intimidating. With steady pacing, we soon complete our work. We can then enjoy the fruit of our labor, whether it is a:

Fresh ear of corn
Good test grade
Clean house
Completed work detail

Remember: When facing any difficult task, any hard row to hoe, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Take one step at a time.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

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