This article was originally published in Link2Us Magazine.

If living in the country has taught me anything, it is that there is an abundance of grace to be found every morning we wake. Giving us the gift of a fresh start and another chance to press forward into the purpose God has for us. And in each new day, He has readied us for opportunities that await us if we are willing to let go of some of our old ways to make room for new growth.

This past summer, my children and I arrived at the tire store to pick up a tire that needed to be plugged. It was the last errand on my to-do list before leaving town and heading home for the evening. I must have been in a hurry with our three kids when I walked in. The clerk at the desk said to my oldest son, “Your mom runs on high octane, doesn’t she?” while I looked for my wallet in my purse. His comment caught my attention and caused me to pause in my rush to pay.

The following morning, I enjoyed a cup of coffee. I slipped on my bib overalls and gathered my tools for the garden, as I do every summer, hoping to avoid the worst of the heat. When I stepped alongside the first row of plants, my boots sank into the dirt the same as when you step into sand. In that moment, I took a breath, admired the sun rising out of the clouds over the field of corn, listened to the sound of the birds’ songs as they grew louder, and enjoyed a gentle breeze that brushed across my face. 

As my hands met the soil and I began to pull weeds, I found myself midway down the row stealing a glimpse of how much more I had to go before completing the row and picking up my pace. In that moment, I realized I was beginning to lean into my old ways of hurrying. It was my hope when returning to country living five years ago that I would unwind and embrace a slower pace and reacquaint myself with a simpler life by getting back to the basics. Yet, there are times, like in the garden and tire shop, where God continues to show me grace when I revert to my old ways of self-sufficiency. 

The mentorship I have found with God in our garden has been my refuge and has helped me reclaim parts of myself that have become essential to carrying out what God has called me to do in the here and now. But at the beginning of a new day, we all can find a fresh start, knowing that His grace sanctifies us. 

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