I mean…. What’s not to love? Massive wheels, caterpillar treads, sticking out spouts, trundling through a golden field. Just the very sight makes me burst into “We plough the fields and scatter…” My children prefer to sing “Big, red, combine harvester, big red combine harvester, big red combine harvester, chug, chug, chug, chug chugging away”
It’s a great time of year for a little reminiscing and connecting with the wonderful world God has created. It’s time to – COMBINE! Combine the things we enjoy, the things we see all around us at this harvest time of year with enjoying the goodness and faithfulness of God. As the seasons change, we dye our fingers purple picking blackberries, stand in awe at the 7 wonky runner beans we grew ourselves, look across a ploughed field or eat an apple crumble. And we do, we get to say, “WOW God, you’re great!”
Against a backdrop of uncertainty, change and people being annoying (aka sinful) – me included – it’s comforting to remember that God is totally faithful and unchangingly dependably good. As Noah and his family emerged from the ark onto the freshly scrubbed earth, God promised them and us that he would hold back judgment from the ground, even though he knew we would mess up again.
“As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night will never cease.”
The sun still comes up, the seasons still follow their pattern, because God is still on the throne. He is keeping his promises. He is entirely faithful to people who aren’t. We have a reason to say “Thank you.”
So this Harvest time, gather in some amazing veg and bake a pie, go out on a walk and make a leaf rainbow, play conkers, snuggle with some soup in a mug round a fire and tell stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness to you. Stop, and say “Thank you!”
It’s not too late to teach your kids the words to the chorus “all good gifts around us” and sing it together before teatime holding hands. Hilarity is allowed, because God is good.
Amy Smith
