In the scriptures, Jesus tells the parable about the wheat and the tares. He spoke how they live and grow together, side by side, until the harvest comes when they are separated. The wheat goes on to be useful and the tares are set aside, left to be trodden under foot or destroyed. I hope on that day of harvest that I am among the Wheat.
Today, I went to the school to watch my daughters perform in the Dance Festival (which was absolutely delightful). One of my dear friends was there with her sweet little boy who struggles a bit. He has these eyes that could melt the polar ice caps, they are so warm and thoughtful. He has a difficult time communicating but when one looks into those beautiful eyes, a person can see how intelligent and curious he is. I sat with him for a couple of the songs during the program so his mom could record her other children. Although I enjoyed interacting with him, it was work. It made me think of his mom and how she so patiently tends to his needs ( and those of her 5 other children) with love, kindness and understanding. She is Wheat.
When I was 6 months pregnant with baby number 5, Cody and I decided to visit his parents while they were on their mission in Nauvoo. What a wonderful, although very cold (December in Illinois with an ice storm is dang dang cold!) trip we had with them. One evening, we were sitting on the couch watching a church movie and my wonderful, loving mother in law rubbed my pregnant feet for two hours. (I have to say when it comes to mothers in law, I hit the jackpot!) I have known for a long time that she is Wheat.
When I lived in Washington, across the street from me lived a woman who was one of the most open and kind hearted people I've ever known. She was always quick with a smile or a chat even though she was busy raising two kids and working. She worked diligently in her yard, especially in the spring and summer. I am not much of a gardener (so sorry dad!) but she was always so good to take my little girls under her wing and teach them a few things about planting and harvesting. She is another person who is Wheat.
I see these three women who come from different backgrounds, age groups, religions and I realized the thread that weaves them together is their love of God and love for their neighbor. In my opinion, what makes a person Wheat can be boiled down to these two commandments. Believing in Jesus Christ and following his teachings makes seeds grow into wheat and because Jesus is a God of miracles, He can even turn tares into Wheat (with a little bit of work on the part of the tares)
So what makes a tare? one who loses faith in Jesus Christ, one who rebels against the 1st and 2nd commandments, one who effectively pulls others away from Jesus Christ through words, actions, example, one who would rather be "in the world" than live by faith and follow Christ. There are a 1001 reasons to walk the road that makes a person a tare. The world likes tares. There are only 2 reasons to be Wheat: Love God and Love our Neighbor. This road is not so easy. It requires work, patience and kindness. It requires us to follow the Savior even when we question what He is doing or where He is going. The purpose isn't always to understand, it is to follow. He promises us so much, so many many blessings, if we can exercise our faith and just keep following Him.
Tares are sad. They find answers to their injured faith from the world and think being Wheat is wrong, bad, stupid, time consuming. They walk on their path to taredom thinking they are free from the "bonds" of church attendance, tithing, service within a church community, morality, health codes or any number of things that dissolves the faith that was once in them.
The question is, where am I? Where are you? Following Jesus Christ has less to do with what church a person belongs to. Church is a vehicle by which we are reminded of blessings and covenants that the Lord gives to us. Without these reminders, we would dwindle in unbelief. The real message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what He taught while on the earth. Do I live the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Am I doing all I can follow Him even when the road is long, dusty and hard? Do I have faith that what He taught will help me return to Heavenly Father? To be with my family? That is what makes Wheat, well Wheat. One day, He will come again and those who believed Him and followed Him will be with Him and the tares will be left aside to be trodden down and destroyed. It will not be a good day to be a tare.
Oh man I hope I am Wheat
You are wheat!
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