It’s strawberry harvesting time here in central Florida where I hang my hat (actually my 100 hats) and this photo captures a common sight as you traverse most any back road bordering a patch of nonsubdivisioned land large enough to plunk down something with roots. Yep, dozens of hard-working people bending in the hot, hot sun over row after row of lush green plants freckled with red dots of ripe sweetness.
Sadly, the open farmland seems to be disappearing at an alarmingly rapid pace in our fair state, but that’s a story for another time.
If you’ve never paused a moment to observe fruit harvesters, you really should … they move with strength, agility, speed, and intentionality as intriguing as choreographed dancers. It’s pretty inspiring, especially to a softie like me who earns her bread and butter sitting in a computer chair wiggling her fingers.
I would harbor a guess that strawberry-picking isn’t the dream job of most of the migrant workers swarming the fields, nevertheless they’re excellent at what they do.
Not just good; not just competent … excellent.
I’m completely mesmerized watching fingers fly from berry to flat (the collection container) as their hands dart from bush to bush. Then, when the flat is full, it’s swung onto one shoulder and sprinted down the long row of plants to the red trailer that serves as a collection depot.
The worker – man, woman, or child – then dashes back (I mean open-throttle running here, not merely trotting) to resume his/her place in the field. I’m told that payment is by the flat, and picking time is often limited, so hauling booty is necessary to do the best possible job.
As I stand there beside my bicycle, watching people who work harder every day of their lives than I’ve ever physically worked once in my whole life, I feel that I’m witnessing a real life demonstration of Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (NASB).
Whatever, it says. Regardless of the lowliness or loftiness of the job before you … scrubbing floors, changing diapers, running a country, chopping onions, flying airplanes, digging ditches, performing surgeries, picking strawberries. Even writing books. Whatever it is, do it with all your might. And be proud of the fruit of your labor. (Pardon the pun.)
You’ll not only please your heavenly Father, but you’ll be infused with a strengthening dose of self-worth and purpose.
As I pedal back home to my well-worn computer chair, I pray for motivation to achieve with my writing even half the level of excellence and effort I’ve just witnessed in a strawberry field. And it would serve me well to wiggle more than just my fingers now and again.
What are some areas of your life that could use a little “all my might” tuneup? I’d love to hear from you, BFF!
And be sure to take a moment and enter my brand new
Share Your Blessings Giveaway – You’ll not only win a Too Blessed to be Stressed: Inspiration for Every Day prize package for yourself, but also one to share with a friend!
Just hop over to my website, www.DeboraCoty.com, click on “freebies” (you might also want to grab yourself some of the great free stuff there if you haven’t already) and then the giveaway details.
And while you’re there, I’d like to invite you to join my BFF (Blessed Friends Forever) Club – my inner circle of BFFs. We’ve been having lots of fun and would be delighted to have you join us!
