Early mornings are a great time to walk in our garden. The light of the rising sun softens the edges of leaves and blossoms and the colors of sky transmute as we watch. This is the time we’ll find garden surprises, a hidden butterfly chrysalis, an apple tree in full bloom, or new seedlings pushing their way up in out-of-the-way places.
Different Ways to View
This week, a windfall of sour oranges was one of those surprises. My enormous, ancient dictionary defines windfall as:
- Something blown down by the wind, as fruit from a tree, or a number of trees in the forest.
- A violent gust of wind rushing from coast ranges and mountains to the sea.
- An unexpected legacy or any unexpected piece of good fortune.
- The tract of fallen trees and the like which indicates the path of a tornado.
- A sudden large increase as in profits due to price increases.
I might have looked upon those fallen oranges as loss or gain. Since they are sour, ornamental oranges, there is no loss of edible produce, however, there is an after-the-storm mess to clean up. Somebody has to do it, and that somebody is me.
Unexpected Legacy or Piece of Good Fortune
If you know my husband and me, you know he’s the Constant Gardener and I’m the Garden Dilettante. I love to walk in the garden and say, “Honey, do you know what would look really nice right here? A bunch of those Giant Zinnias.” Or, “Does the avocado tree look like it needs fertilizer?” Remember, I’m the Dilettante.
Days before the storm, I found him picking oranges off the lower limbs of the row of sour oranges. “Don’t pick those,” I said. “They’re so pretty on the trees.”
He kept at it. “Storm’s coming. It’s easier for me to get them off now than bend down and pick them up later. Lord knows you won’t do it!”
So I promised him I would. After the storm, as I picked up oranges, I thanked God for the windfall. Now, checking for fallen oranges is part of my daily walk. Instead of looking at them as a mess to clean up, I see the blessing. I’m thankful for their golden beauty against the dark green foliage. I’m thankful I’m physically able to walk, bend, and pick them up when they fall. I’m thankful for the lovely memory of our old mare stretching her neck to select snacks from the highest branches.
In this instance, I knew a windfall was coming, and I knew what my attitude should be. But it isn’t always easy to be positive or thankful when unexpected challenges come my way, such as a traffic jam when I’m late, a request for help on a busy day, a sick and whiney child—or husband. Those examples, which may sound familiar to some, may be only fallen oranges to others who face betrayal, divorce, betrayal, financial fears, drug addiction, terminal illness, or abuse.
For myself, I’ll try to remember the aspects of windfall the next time something with less obvious beauty is the result of one of life’s storms. What is the splendor? What is the blessing?
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ~ I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7
Verses from New Living Translation
Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy. She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.
In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.
WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.
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