The poorest spot

Jacob chapter 5 in The Book of Mormon is one of my favorites. It's got some lovely symbolism of how God works with us. Today I woke up aching all over, hair to toenail, to realize I hadn't taken my fibromyalgia medicine for two days, so I'm in for a bad time. And I have been. I eventually open up my scriptures, and I happen to be in Jacob 5 today.

In the parable, there are two people, the Lord of the vineyard and his servant. They discuss how to save a favorite olive tree, representing the house of Israel. Yesterday they decided to scatter Israel, to take some of the branches of the olive tree and plant them in other parts of the vineyard. Today they are checking up on those offshoots to see how they are doing, because the "lost" tribes are not lost to the Lord.

5:21 The servant said unto his master [with a few additions from Derrill]: [Could you explain to me] how [exactly you decided to] plant this branch [here of all places?] behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard!

5:22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.

['Yes, I know it hurts. I know the trial you reading this are going through. I know it's hard. That's why I've been with you, supporting you, helping you this whole time. I know you don't see why it has to be this way just now, but trust me. I'm the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be.']

I find a lot of comfort in that thought. But it gets better.

5:23 [Then they went to the next branch and] the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: I have planted another branch of the tree, and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first.

Yes, it could worse. It could be a lot worse. I am thankful it is not worse.

5:23 But, behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit.

And even if it were worse, it would still be okay. Because God is the gardener. He nourishes his children, wherever they are, whatever their circumstances, so that we can bear up under them and be borne up by Him.