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Well, sweet-corn season has come and gone. The extreme heat and pesky critters finished off our crop a couple of weeks ago, but the corn sure was good while it lasted, and that frozen treat awaits to be enjoyed in the months ahead.

Although we and many others enjoyed the delicious corn, I must admit lots went to waste, and that bothers me.

I guess you could say we all learned a lot this year — our family’s first sweet-corn planting adventure, led by my husband.

Knowing he’s a farmer yet a novice in the sweet-corn field may surprise you, but we haven’t really needed to plant any before. You see, for years, we’ve had neighbors who planted and generously offered to let us to pick from their crops.

But there’s a season for people too, you know, and those particular sweet neighbors are no longer with us. So my husband felt led to step up and plant some himself this year, and let’s just say God blessed his efforts!

Lessons learned from the beginners’ bumper crop included quantity, spacing, staggered plantings and ideas for better handling the bounty in that small window of time corn peaks. Now that we’ve had a taste of the work involved, beginning to end, we can better plan to make it somewhat easier and more enjoyable (for us and for other people.)

Did you know God wants us to experience and exude joy in our work and in our earthly lives? Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and it’s an active choice of attitude, but it’s certainly not always the choice I naturally make.

For example, when my husband announces for me to get ready —“the time” for working to freeze a bunch of sweet corn is upon us, I’m often less joyful and more “awww shucks” at my schedule being dictated.

Yet I realize when the corn is ready, it won’t wait long. Its peak passes quickly. And I know we will surely enjoy the fruits of our labors at family meals, such as during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I’m so thankful to have been blessed with a real-life example of what joyfully working the harvest looks like through my grandmother.

When it was corn day (or bean day or whatever canning or freezing day), she was all smiles, complimenting those who’d planted the crop on how nice the vegetable or fruit was. She worked with such joy, never complaining but always thankful for the opportunity.

She’d even add to what many would consider enough mess going on in the kitchen by juggling cooking a full lunch for all involved to enjoy, of course featuring the fresh pick of the day. The cleanup effort sure to result didn’t deter her.

Rather than a day of drudgery, she made the work seem more like a celebration.

Yes, I miss her, but I love that I’m still learning from how she allowed God to work through her. And now, as a grandmother myself, I consider the legacy I want to leave … of which a big part is attitude.

There have been a couple of years, including last year, we didn’t put up any corn because I was out of town right at the prime picking time. They say timing is everything, and that’s one thing I hope to include in our planning improvements to mitigate regret.

We’ve long heard, “Watch what you wish for.” It’s true. We often find ourselves unprepared to savor the harvest of our hope, don’t we?

If we’re not careful, even our blessings can stress us — our abundance weighing us down instead of filling us with joy and thanksgiving … kind of like all that corn, with too much going to waste.

And my heart recognizes these “planning improvements” for the sweet corn translate from the fields into our home. There’s much I need to get in order to better tend and grow crops there too for our family, such as peace and contentment.

I don’t want to be left with, or leave my family with, hard, starchy kernels (of anything).

Today, we can search YouTube videos, podcasts, books and social media for an overwhelming plethora of how-to and self-improvement clues, but the wisdom-filled Bible tells us all we really need to know … and do.

Let me share a few different ways of saying words found in Proverbs 16:3, giving us a big tip to living and planning for working and sharing in the harvest:

“Commit thy works unto the LORD and thy thoughts shall be established.”

“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.”

“Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.”

Dear God, thank you for graciously reminding us there’s a better way — your way. Establish our plans as you’d have them be.

Thank you for wanting us not to be burdened, but instead to give our burdens to you, trusting you with it all. Continue to grow in us the fruits of your Spirit, producing enough to share with those around us, and give us hearts full of praise and thanksgiving to you, for we know the harvest and the kingdom are yours. Amen.

Gina Moore, a news-editorial journalism major, has operated Marketplace Consignment Sale for 29 years and has worked part-time at Treasures. She also enjoys country cooking, reading and writing about motherhood, life on the farm and how God’s love and lessons surround residents.