We drive into Niagara-on-the-Lake. Just across from the falls and tourist attractions, it’s a sleepy little town. I let out a sigh as I feel the rythm and pace of this place.
It is slower here.
Along the side of the road grows vineyard after vineyard. My husband and I point out different sizes of vines, “Those look young.” “Those look like they’ve been growing awhile.”
We’re read that vineyards can take years to produce. The green that flashes before us represents many seasons of patience, nurturing, faithfulness.
I’m not sure I could be a grape grower.
I want things to work out now.
I want to be better now.
I want God’s work to be complete in my life now.
And when that doesn’t happen, I feel like a failure.
I remember once a wise friend said this to me about the fruit of the Spirit. “Holley,” she said, “It’s fruit. It takes time to grow. We don’t have those qualities all at once.”
I smiled with relief.
Because while I may not ever be a grape grower, I belong to One.
He understands that we are in process. He doesn’t mind the nurturing we need. He can see what’s coming forth in our lives even when we feel like it will never happen.
We don’t have to hurry our growth. In reality, our striving can produce no more in our lives than a branch can instantly create a grape. In the end we have to yield to greater timelines than our own.
So we wait. We trust. And when the time is right, we savor what God has done in us.
What only He can do.
XO
