The farmer drops a seed into the ground and goes away and leaves
it. It sprouts and grows, and by and by he reaps the harvest
of the sowing, and he says, “I have harvested, I have raised so
many bushels of corn to the acre.” Oh, no, he has not. He has
sown so many seeds, he has cultivated so many acres, he has put
in his sickle or his harvesting machine, and he has gathered
so many stalks. But he could not have done it if some forces
of nature had not been at work perfecting that which he began.
He and nature, as we say--he and God, as I say--have worked
together to raise the harvest. (Text.)--LYMAN ABBOTT.
(586)
See GRATITUDE.