This year, I was strategic when I was sowing my seeds for my garden (see “Be Intentional! Stop Making Mud”). Rather than randomly dispersing my resources (new soil, nutrients, etc.), I only placed them in the places where I intended to actually sow my seeds. I created obvious rows and mounds and indentations, so I would know exactly where I’d planted, and I could focus my energy and resources in those spaces. Makes sense, right?

It’s been some weeks since I planted.  I’ve been watering and weeding and weeding and watering, and it’s paying off. After a few weeks, I had green sprouts and tiny plants in all of the spaces that I sowed.  All except one. And although all of the other spaces were blooming, that one space gave me pause. It made me question myself. Did I plant there? Of course, I did. Was it bad seeds? Well, all of the others from that package are growing. Did I overwater?  Did I plant it too deep? Why is this not going as I expected? Why is this one not working out? I’m doing all the right things, yet the fruit of my labor is not apparent.

Looking at the void at least twice a day every day became quite worrisome, and I asked myself, do I keep watering and weeding or do I just count it as a loss? Looking at all the other sprouts and green leaves, I almost convinced myself to give up on this one, but something in me told me, “Water it anyway!” The conversation went something like this:

Me: I did everything I was supposed to do, and I’m getting nothing. I may as well quit wasting my time on this one.

Self: Water it anyway!  

Me: But I’m being strategic. I said, “No more mud!”

Self: Water it anyway!

Me: I put the seeds in the same proximity of the mound…the same depth. I should see green right here!

Self: Water it anyway!

So, guess what? I kept watering and weeding and weeding and watering.

Today, I stepped out to the garden for my first morning glance, coffee in hand, pajamas, house robe, and garden boots, the attire of queens, and what did I see? A green sprout on the long empty mound.

And guess what.

It wasn’t in the place that I expected to see it, but it was there.

It wasn’t at the center of the mound; it was coming out of the side.

Every harvest doesn’t look exactly like you imagined it would when you sowed. And sometimes, your harvest may be delayed for reasons unknown. But whatever you do, don’t give up. Don’t let the temporary void cause you to walk away from what has been promised.

It may not look like much right now, but water it anyway!