With Love and Care

As a farmer’s daughter, I had always been confident that farming was second nature to me. But once I tried growing crops myself, I realized how little I actually knew.

In a small garden behind our home, I planted various greens, following the example of an elderly neighbor. At first, the lettuce, squash, and perilla leaves in my garden looked no different from theirs. But the chili peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants were a different story. My neighbors’ vegetables grew long, straight, and ready for harvest, while mine were twisted like little shrimp, irregular in shape—thick in some parts and thin in others.

I asked him how he kept his crops so healthy. He explained me he rises early each morning to care for the plants—watering, treating for pests, and adding nutrients when needed. I, on the other hand, assumed that planting them was enough and only watered occasionally when I had time. As a result, my cucumbers and eggplants grew twisted, and my chili peppers fell ill or were eaten by insects, often dropping before I could even harvest them.

My neighbor responded, “If crops could grow on their own, why would farmers be needed?” He reminded me that both people and plants require love and attention. I realized that, as a child, I only knew the joy of harvesting and never understood the hard work my parents put into helping the crops thrive. Even now, as they continue farming in our hometown and send me seasonal produce, I feel embarrassed recalling the time I boldly told them I no longer needed their help—now that I farm myself.

Through my humble experience in farming, I began to understand why God referred to Himself as a farmer. Just as a farmer patiently tends to crops with care and unwavering effort until they are ready for harvest, our Heavenly Father quietly endured hardships so that His children, lost to sin, could be transformed through the new covenant. Even now, our Heavenly Mother watches over Her children around the world, providing spiritual nourishment in its proper season and helping them overcome every difficulty.

When my faith was still fragile, I could not see clearly this fact. But over the years, as I faithfully observed the festivals of the new covenant, I came to understand just how boundless the love and care of our Heavenly Father and Mother truly are, guiding us until we shed the garments of sin and return home to heaven.

I pray to become a child who shares the love of God Elohim with diligence, courage, and compassion, so that even those who have not yet known the truth may also enter our heavenly home together.