The Tare
The farmer picks a seed
He plants it in the ground
This seed is very special
He's happy that it's found.
He sprinkles water lightly
Very carefully with love
The seed then sprouts a green full leaf
It reaches for the farmer above.
He's over-joyed in seeing this
He gives it love and care
And when the leaf has rips and holes
He mends each and every tear.
The leaf knows not what to expect
The farmer knows all things
It just relies on the farmer's wise ways
It depends on what he will bring.
So the farmer tends it lovingly
It grows into something greater
And as the clouds come and gather round
It looks up to its maker.
The clouds make fun and scorn at it
"Why, you're nothing but a weed"
It is hurt and the farmer says
"He came from a special seed."
You see the farmer loves it so
That's why he gives it love and care
It really doesn't matter to him
That's it's a simple little Tare.
© Brooke Arceneaux
January 21, 1998
Yah, so I wrote that when I was 16. But after I took the picture of the weeds today, I thought of this poem and decided...why not? A Tare is a weed that's mentioned in the Bible. When I was sixteen, that's all that mattered to me. I saw the word in the index one day when I was doing a devotional and it stuck with me. Thus a poem was born.
Now, with many more years of wisdom and experience, haha, I have done a teensy bit more digging. Apparently, this little Tare has more significance that I thought. It is part of a parable that Jesus told in Matthew 13:24-30.
KJV
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
NIV
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
The Tare was actually a weed, weed... like a yucky bad weed that was invading the good stuff...not a sweet little flawed thing that was loved anyways, like in my poem.
I think it's interesting though... the parable told here....
Jesus says to let the weeds be. To let the good wheat grow with these "flaws". Then, when the time is right, the good wheat will be stripped of these flaws. They will be discarded and destroyed. The wheat, having grown among those obstacles, will be stronger for it. Their roots will have fought for the good soil and nutrients. Their buds will have reached higher for the light and the sun.
I think my poem still applies to people, as flawed human beings who are still loved by God. But we are also like the wheat... as children of God, we still live among obstacles. We face trial and refinement each day. By rebuking the enemy and fighting for righteousness we become stronger.
We should always remember to reach for The Light and The SON.
