One of the greatest temptations in life is to give up.  Quitting seems so easy at the time especially when faced with adversity and struggle.  It seems easier to go with what’s easy and comfortable and forsake those goals and dreams that seem impossible.

However, I’m reminded of the job of a farmer.  He/She plants seeds at the right time of year and then the real work begins.  He has to check his seeds and make sure the weeds are not choking out the seeds.  He has to pull weeds.  He also has to make sure the seeds are properly watered and nourished.  If natural rain doesn’t come, he has to water his seeds.  Farming can be a very slow process depending on what’s been planted.  There are many days it looks like nothing is happening above the ground or on the outside.  It may even begin to look worse before it looks better.  But the farmer holds onto hope that one day his seeds will spring up and produce a harvest—a harvest which represents his hard, diligent work and provides a reward for his labor.  The farmer continues to plant because he knows what will happen if he doesn’t give up. He knows what will happen because of his track record from past experiences.

So how does that farmer relate to you?  Maybe you’ve given up hope that nothing good will happen.  Maybe you’ve forgotten your past good experiences which led you to where you are now.  Maybe you’ve tried a lot of different things hoping to find the right open door.  Maybe you’re in the waiting process of looking for the fruit of your labor.  Maybe you’ve hit a crossroad and need to make a decision of what to plant and where to plant it.  Whatever the case, you are just like the farmer.

You have seeds (ideas, gifts, dreams) to plant.  There’s a place that’s ready for your seed and what you have to offer.  Once you find that place, diligently plant there, and nourish that dream, you are close to reaping your harvest.

Don’t despise the day of small beginnings or second guess yourself because everything hasn’t fallen into place yet.  Just keep planting, nourishing, and waiting.  Something bigger than what you can see on the outside is happening right now on the inside.  Get prepared for your best days!

~Coletta Jones Patterson

Coletta is an author, life coach, business executive and weekly blogger.  Connect with Coletta at info@moveu4ward.com.