The Promise of a Harvest

Nothing compares to the flavor of a perfectly ripe tomato, fragrant and warm from the heat of the August sun. No sandwich is truly complete without it. In fact, such a tomato is worthy of becoming the sandwich, with nothing needed more than a little mayonnaise or oil olive and perhaps a slice of cheese. To create a sandwich of this caliber, I start in February.

When the blanket of winter snow obscures the location of my raised bed garden, I sit by a warm fire sipping hot cocoa and flipping through seed catalogs dreaming of my August harvest. I select the varieties I will grow in the coming summer and plan their location in my garden. In April, as the hyacinths fill the garden with the scent of spring, I am indoors in my basement, holding my August garden in the palm of my hand. Those small tomato seeds that I plant in little fiber pots hold the promise of my harvest. In mid-May, I will carefully take the tomato seedlings grown from those seeds outdoors in a protected location for part of the day. I am helping the plants "harden off" and prepare for their new life in the windy and cold garden, away from the shelter of my basement.

During the scorching heat of July, the plants that have developed from the seedlings need extra water and a source of calcium added to the soil to prevent the young tomato fruit from becoming misshapen. Early in the morning I venture into the garden to tend to their needs, thinking of the harvest that is now only weeks ... Read more

'Tis the Season

It was 5 AM, April 1996. Looking out the window as the sun began wakening the morning sky, the day looked promising; but there was such a weariness of my soul as I struggled to appreciate the beauty. You see, my Dad had been given two weeks to live. That pronouncement had been in February. The intensity of living each day to the full by trying to make a difference in his failing condition, dealing with the emotional implications of the imminent future, struggling to get enough sleep, and endeavoring to keep life functioning created a weariness that sleep could not restore.

To gain strength and endurance for the day, I craved time to read God's Word and be in God's presence. It was the only way I could make it through the day. A few days earlier Isaiah 33:6 had offered comfort and hope, "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge, the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure." The reminder, reassurance, and security of God's unchangeable character and presence gave soothing ... Read more

Shifting the Load

Well it's pretty much official, isn't it girls? Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. The time to start packing away the summer furniture and pool paraphernalia has come and gone (at least for most of us!) while boxes filled with autumn & Christmas décor are waiting to be unpacked. Can I ask you a question though? As you reopened your closets, attics and storage sheds and faced the clutter awaiting you, did you find yourself wondering why you yourself didn't have a yard sale to unload some of these things? I mean you probably visited at least one or two yard sales yourself this past summer, right? Now maybe you just happen to be one of "those women" who has one every other year and is on top of the clutter in your life. But some of us, well...we find ourselves putting it off year after year.

I think we can all agree that yard sales may be enjoyable to visit but they are not necessarily all that pleasant and easy to prepare for. There's the sorting through items, revisiting old memories, cleaning and making them ready to move ... Read more

Hold My Hand

The air was crisp and the evening was dark! It was a great night to be outdoors. With only a crescent moon, the darkness made the stars seem to twinkle brighter. One deep breath made you want to inhale all the wonder of the night.

The setting was perfect. But, we were walking along a dark rural street with 3 small children. Occasional cars passed us as we walked along the edges of fields, lawns and driveways. "Hold my hand." was the directive given by each adult. Each child eagerly and willingly put their hands in ours as we ventured into the night's unknowns.

The warm little hand in mine brought joy to my heart. This child belonged to me and felt more secure because I was holding their hand. She knew she was not alone in the blackness. Fear slipped out of her mind because her hand was in mine. Feeling secure to face anything she might encounter in the unseen night, she enjoyed the ... Read more

Simply Trusting

We went to the beach last week. Our two youngest daughters got to ride in a convertible on the way. I could see them in their car seats with their hands high up in the air and smiles on their faces. I couldn't see their faces, but I know they were smiling. This was their first time to see the ocean. They had no maps, no idea how to get there. They were just enjoying the ride, the sights, and their friends. They had no worries. They were going to get to the beach real soon, because they simply trust their driver.

It appears trust is a simple word with the implications that it is simple to do. Is it easy to trust? I guess it would depend on who we are trusting. Are we trusting in an all knowing, dependable, loving, caring ... Read more

Rev. Donna Alexander
Kingston, MA

Rev. Nancy Asfour
Brewster, MA

Rev. Anne Bates
Abington, MA

Rev. Bonnie Boyington
Saugus, MA

Rev. Catherine Boyle
Dennisport, MA

Rev. Jill Brown
Malden, MA

Rev. Lori Canaday
Portland, CT

Rev. Damaris Carlson
Manchester, CT

Rev. Danielle Christy
Burlington, MA

Rev. Janis Collette
Westminster, MA

Rev. Esther Corey
Barrington, RI

Rev. Ramona Crabtree
North Andover, MA

Rev. Denise Croteau
Haverhill, MA

Rev. Mellinda Doherty
Vernon, CT

Rev. Jacqueline Doucette
Natick, MA

Rev. Victoria Eggeman
Lynn, MA

Rev. Christina Eliason
Wakefield, MA

Rev. Sharon Frankel
Huntington, MA

Rev. Yvette Gallagher
Ware, MA

Rev. Loretta Giannattasio
Bridgeport, CT

Rev. Margery Hale
Northampton, MA

Rev. Lena Hendrickson
Danvers, MA

Rev. Kristen Hodge
Haverhill, MA

Rev. Loretta Iannicelli
Wellesley, MA

Rev. Eliabeth Johnson
Chicopee, MA

Rev. Deborah Kerr
Worcester, MA

Rev. Nancy Korzeniowski
Quincy, MA

Rev. Jennifer Levering
Westwood, MA

Rev. Susan Lynch
Dudley, MA

Rev. Jeanette Marty
West Haven, CT

Rev. Susanne McAlvin
Providence, RI

Rev. Hallie McLaughlin
East Berlin, CT

Rev. Tabatha Mello
Providence, RI

Rev. Tana Miller
Beverly, MA

Rev. Amy Moller
Stafford Springs, CT

Rev. Joanne Murchie
Waltham, MA

Rev. Julie Nalette
Fitchburg, MA

Rev. Theresa Norris
Harwich, MA

Rev. Abigail Ortiz-Miller
Somerville, MA

Rev. Marae Playe
East Providence, RI

Rev. Christina Powell
Boston, MA

Rev. Debra Risto
Winchendon, MA

Rev. Rochelle Roberts
Pawtucket, RI

Rev. Linda Rothganger
Nixa, MO

Rev. Karen Rydwansky
Quincy, MA

Rev. Kelly Shannon
Warwick, RI

Rev. Tonia Slimm
Windsor Locks, CT

Rev. Cory Strawn
Southbridge, MA

Rev. Brenda Strysko
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Rev. Valerie Thompson
Manchester, CT

Rev. Dawn Trivolis
Marion, CT

Rev. Christine Vergara
Cadiz, Spain

Rev. Dianne Weber
Arlington, MA

Rev. Dorothy Wilson
North Adams, MA

Rev. Helen Wright
Andover, MA

Rev. Lori Zukowski
Agawam, MA