I am not sure how many times I pulled that rope on the old roto-tiller last spring, but I know our soil was in the right condition to plant. We only had one problem; it did not want to warm up until the middle of June and then it turned extremely hot and dry. But we could taste the fruit of our labor and the seeds were planted. I even bought a zucchini plant at the green house so that my hopes of having fried zucchini by the Fourth of July might be reality.

Believe it or not, our gardening adventure was less that we hoped. What with the very busy summer, little rain and extreme heat, we became somewhat discouraged.

Will we do it again next year? You can count on it. We have even begun plans to better water and care for our small seedlings and what they become. In fact, we have made plans to move one garden because there is so much competition from surrounding trees for water, nutrients and sunlight. When it gets hot and dry our little seedlings are no match for the giants around them. At least not yet.

Every year I hear young people share their testimonies of how last year at camp, they had committed to follow Jesus whole heartedly. The seed had been planted and had taken root in very supple soil; however, when the heat and dry times came they wilted and they were discouraged by their lack of productivity. Even when their desire was strong to serve God, sometimes the competition around them began snatching the needed spiritual food that was available. In so many ways we are like a garden that needs constant watering and nurturing until we can get our roots down. The Lord even refers to us as his vineyard.

It is so important for the young people that have attended RBR to continue to receive the blessing of God’s Word so that they may grow strong.

As parents, we have the responsibility to make sure that they receive the spiritual nurturing especially at home. Sometimes we think we can pull these young plants up and lay them on someone else's garden and hope they take root. That can’t happen. Home is where they put down the deep roots that can withstand the pressures of the outside.

Everything else is supportive to the home efforts, even camp. Our prayers are with each “Family Garden” as it grows and matures in the grace and love of Jesus.