Be Diligent Like Ants

Do any of you have a vegetable garden at home? A garden like mine (pass around a few pictures) is a lot of work. First in the season, you have to prepare the ground with a tiller (picture), then you have to plan what vegetables you want to have? What are your favourites? Once you have chosen the ones you want, you make a map of where your veggies will grow best in the garden, then you have to make all the rows with a garden hoe (show it to them). Then finally you have to plant your seeds. Then we’re all done right? Of course not!

Once you’ve got everything planted, you get some rest, but not too long, because if it’s really hot outside (like it has been over the last three weeks or so) you’ll have to water your garden (watering can). Then we’re finally done, right? Nope not yet. We have to weed the garden, take out all the stuff that shouldn’t be growing there. Plus, you have to do it consistently, diligently. You have to stick to your task.

Finally, once the veggies are all grown, you must harvest them? Does anyone know what harvesting is? That’s right! Harvest time comes when the veggies are ready to be picked and eaten. We can have raw veggies like you guys have from my garden, you can freeze them, you can put them in cans or bottles for later, or you can have a big corn boil, where corn on the cob is the veggie of choice, with a little bit of butter and a little bit of salt, mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

So, remember this story when you face the tasks in your life, like cleaning your room, or doing the dishes, taking out the garbage, your homework. Remember to have diligence in all you do like the ants!

Heavenly Father, help us to understand what it means to be diligent and help us to be diligent in all the chores that we face every day. Amen.