A Weekend Project
A couple of months ago we were at Lowe’s picking up a few things. We ended up in the gardening section and the boys decided they wanted to plant some seeds. We got a variety of seed packets and those little biodegradable pots to start them out in. Now I’m not going to lie, I never thought they would be successful; growing plants from seeds? We can barely keep the plants alive that are already grown. We got home and proceeded to plant these seeds. I tried to keep the chaos to a minimum, “We must only plant a few seeds in each pot.” But boys will be boys and they took over the project. So by the end, each pot had 10 or more seeds in them.
After a time the plants began to grow. We had to go back to Lowe’s to upgrade to big planters for our cucumbers, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts. Then a few weeks later we had to buy a tomato cage for the cucumbers. Now just a couple of months after the initial planting party, the cucumbers are about 5 feet tall and flowering. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that these tiny little seeds would grow into a 5 foot tall plant.
Spiritual Seeds
Jesus once told the parable of the sower and his seeds (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23.) Each of the seeds that were thrown out ended in a different set of circumstances and not all turned into huge cucumber plants; like the ones on my back porch. But like the cucumbers, which we watered and fertilized and helped those funny little tendrils find the cage, we all need the love and attention to grow in our spiritual lives.
God gives us all the opportunity to flourish in our spiritual lives; not just a select few chosen ones. All we have to do is take a second to listen and follow. I spend my lunches these days walking around a pond a few minutes from work. It’s the time of day when I can truly reflect on my life, my relationship with God and really try to listen for what he is trying to tell me. Some days all I hear are the geese and the screaming children playing on the playground, but some days I hear a lot more.
Sowing Seeds in Others
Even before my “Coming to Jesus” moment a little over a month ago I had began to try to be a more positive person. I started to try to encourage others more. A motivational Facebook post here, an encouraging word to a trainee at work there. We can all help change the future one seed at a time. I’ve come to not worry about what others say and do so much anymore because ultimately they don’t have any control over me. There is only ONE that is in charge of my life. A dear friend at work recently told me when I was having a down day, “Why are you so worried about what they may think?” When referring to the source of my distress he said, “He didn’t make you, he can’t lift you up.”
Don’t get caught feeding your seeds with the wrong fertilizer. Those seeds will grow plants of doubt, discouragement, and all kinds of other negative things. Instead, water your seeds with the love of Jesus Christ, and one day the Lord God Almighty will harvest you up to that eternal garden in the sky.
Tetelestai 