Early this morning as I was folding clothes, I started to get a little tired. I had hung the entire load to avoid dryer damage and shrinkage, and as I took them off of their drying hangers, my Mother helped me fold them, placing them into ‘like’ piles. I was already fatigued from days, weeks, months of interrupted sleep patterns, due to the demands of work, ministry, and home. So an early morning laundry session felt a bit arduous. I looked at the clothing and thought of all of the items I had bought to have a diversity of outfits, including the much-needed winter attire, as I had arrived in July to help my parents and thought I would only be here until about October, definitely going home before winter’s arrival. But it was now February of the following year, which meant boots, long sleeve shirts and sweaters, and pants, socks, and all of the things that go along with winter-comfort had been purchased. I looked at the pile of clothes and decreed it would be counted as a seed for God’s kingdom, as I had previously done with other things I’d bought to fulfill what I knew He had instructed me to do regarding my parents, family, and others. 

As I sighed from getting even more tired as I folded clothes early in the morning, Holy Spirit quickly removed the thought of getting tired from the amount of clothes that I was folding and replaced it with gratefulness for the amount of clothes I was folding. I immediately asked God to forgive me for even the “sigh of complaint” and thought of “this is a lot.” Because I then remembered a time that I couldn’t afford everything that I needed, and now I had been blessed with everything I desired. I said, “Thank You, Lord” and continued to fold. As I walked into my childhood bedroom to put the clothes in the clear plastic totes I had bought to store them while I was here, I saw a reusable fabric mask that was part of my pile of laundry. The mask has a filter pocket and can be used over and over again, and I washed it to ensure it was clean and prepped to receive a new filter insert. 

It was at this moment that God reminded me of a “precious seed” He had me sow during the early days of the pandemic. I was at the post office, finally picking up the long-awaited and essential medical-grade PPE (masks and filters) that had gotten delayed in shipment. Due to high demand, scarcity, and stories of these items being stolen, I went to a private corner of the post office to open the box to ensure I wouldn’t be “at risk” if I opened them publicly. I counted them and they were all there. I sighed in a sense of relief and thanked God for providing them for my family and me. With them tucked away in my purse, I stood in line, standing at least 6-feet away from other patrons to pick up whatever box was associated with the slip that I retrieved from my PO box.

As I waited, I heard a conversation that concerned me. “I like your mask. Where did you get it, or do you make them?” The voice came from an older gentleman standing behind me, who was talking with a lady standing to my left. He was wearing a bandana around his face and stated he was having difficulty finding masks. The young lady indicated she made them and told him the price was $75. I was flabbergasted as while her mask was made of designer material, it didn’t properly cover her nose or the sides of her face. The look on his face told me that I didn’t need to arbitrate, as my soul desired to, because the price he was quoted was unfavorable to him. That’s when Holy Spirit spoke and prompted me to give him a mask filter. As he walked out of the front door of the building, I approached him.

“Excuse me, Sir. I was in front of you in the post office and overheard your conversation about not being able to find a mask. From what I’ve researched and have been told by several medical professionals, you can use a filter with your bandana. I will give you one of the new filters I got today and information about where you can order masks and filters online.” The look of pleasant shock flooded his face, as he said, “Really?!” I went into my purse and gave him a filter, telling him how to use it and where to order additional PPE. With his multiple, “Thank you, I really appreciate it” statements, I politely and humbly responded, “Praise God, my pleasure. God bless you and please stay safe.” My heart was happy and although I had waited six weeks for the PPE that should have taken less than one, God had protected yet another one of His creations or children through what He provided and entrusted into my hands. To God alone be all of the glory, honor, and praise!

And this morning, as I folded and put away my clothes, God reminded me of this “precious seed.” It was precious as it was sacrificial and sown from limited resources that in the natural, I required for my own life and that of my family. It might have seemed small but pricey nonetheless, as PPE was a rare, essential find at that moment. Yet God saw that filter as a seed – something not to fulfill my need but to be sown to fulfill someone else’s. Who but God knows what faith He planted or watered from the “precious seed” that was sown that day? Who but God knows how many lives the gentleman will positively impact for God’s kingdom? Who but God knows how God’s fame will spread as the man shares the story about how God provided for him in the time of famine? 

This morning, God reminded of that “precious seed” and how He would honor it and bring an immense harvest to me for it. He reminded me to expect an abundant harvest from every seed and sacrifice I’ve made for Him and His kingdom. He reminded me to not ever grow weary of doing well, for I would reap a plentiful harvest when the time was right, if I didn’t faint. He reminded me that He watches over His words to perform them and He is faithful to His promises. He reminded me that He will satisfy my mouth with only good things. He reminded me that I had seen His faithfulness throughout my life and that because He was my Shepherd, I lacked nothing. He reminded me that obedience is better than sacrifice and sowing that “precious seed” during a definite time of personal need would indeed be greatly honored.

This morning, God reminded me, so let me remind you. For I am encouraged yet again today, because “great is Thy faithfulness, oh God unto me.” 

Scriptural Reflections

• And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Galatians 6:9 AMPC)

•  So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. (Hebrews 10:23 AMPC)

• “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 AMP)

• For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40 AMP)

© 2021 Kassandra McGhee