Saskatoons

Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. (NASB)

Saskatoon season is approaching soon. Saskatoons are small purple berries that grow in clusters on bushes. Because they grow in the wild, we have to go scouting around to find them. Many years, we have tramped through trees and undergrowth to get to them. At such moments, filling a bucket of Saskatoons is our hearts' desire. We can almost taste the pies made with them.

Our buckets, though, are not instantly nor easily filled. We have some hard work to do. We see large clusters at the top of some of the trees. It is hard to get to the tree. Then it is hard to pull it down. Often, we are disappointed because the clusters that looked so big up there are not really as big once we have pulled the tree down. It takes a long time to fill a bucket, one cluster at a time. That isn't all the work, either. Once we get them home, there's picking out the bad ones, washing the good ones, sorting, and cleaning for a long time. This is also a lot of work.

But — the pies are wonderful, the muffins are the best, the desserts are great! While eating them, then we know it was worth it all.

Life's journey is hard, too. We have to trudge through underbrush at times. Sometimes we have to pull down strongholds. Life can be tedious while we pursue our hearts' desire.

The song, When We See Christ by Esther Kerr Rusthoi, says it well:

It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.
Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase.
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ.

Prayer: O Lord, life can be so hard. Help us to keep Your face ever before us. Amen.