Copyright © 2009 ….RaeDi
A while back, I was planting some vegetable seeds and it took me back in time. When my children were young, they ask me why some people had deep faith and others did not. I ask them to explain to me what they meant. They explained to me that some of the people at church seemed to be strong in faith where others seemed weak. They explained they felt some were coming to church just to come. I had thought that a good assessment. Through the eyes of a child, they see so much more than most adults. It was time to learn about what you sow is what you reap and also about being judgmental.
I gathered up a couple of large flowerpots and we planted geranium seeds in each pot. I had them count how many had been planted into each pot. It was up to them to water and feed the seeds as they germinated and started to grow. We watched each day to see what the seeds they had planted would do. Soon enough we could see little seed heads sprouting. They were so excited. They soon learned they all developed at different phases. Some spouted within the period the seed envelope stated, while others were slower to sprout. Then they discovered not all the seeds had sprouted.
They too learned some grew hurried and were short-lived. Others were at a constant growth, some with thin stems others with thick stems. Some had branched out in different directions. We discussed all the variables of the different plants as they started to grow. My children soon learned that even though a plant was growing and healthy and may have been one with a good strong stem that did not mean they would continue to grow or even get to the point of producing flowers. Some withers away, even though they had the same amount of water and food. Still others seem weak, it looks like they would not make it but in the long run were the strongest, and had countless flowers during the season.
Over the summer, they learned that no matter the time, with patience, love, care, and being fed (Lord’s words) that each was an individual and each in its own way determined if it would blossomed or did not. Some had big flowers that were robust in color and so resilient to the different weather they maintained a good even growth and stayed strong. Others were resilient and grew at a little slower pace, but they kept producing flowers and stayed strong. They had learned that some of the seeds never sprouted and others died off for no reason at all. Some were very weak and never got to the bud stage. Others seem so faint; it was all they could do to make it through the season, then there were some that died back to nothing.
My children learned we all grow in faith at different paces. They learned watching the seeds from concept through the season that each had its own pace and life. Some barely made it through the season. Others we were able to winter over and replant the next spring and again were good robust plants that bloomed throughout the season. (They learned through this what rebirth meant ~ another story.) They learned some were fragile and would not make it through the first season. Some were slow and steady but in the end they were stout, sturdy, and ready to put on a wonderful display of beautiful flowers.
As Christians it is the same thing, we have souls that are steadfast in our belief, while others who come on strong in faith would then fall off for one reason or another. Others that are weak in faith maybe they have not opened their heart to the spirit yet or something was holding them back. Each one in his or her own time, the spirit dwells in each of us and when the timing is right then it will make for a good season for sowing the seeds of our Lords words. They learned in spreading-sowing the seeds-words of our Lord you did not always know who was listening and how what you were saying might affect those listening outside of who you are speaking to.
In discipleship, holding on to our commitment of our walk with our Lord and keeping a constant slow and steady devotion with our everyday actions they each speak and are as evenly balanced as words without being judgmental. The Lord taught us to love one another; someone is watching our actions and attitudes at all times. One has to have the knowledge (Lord’s words) and with the Holy Spirit for complete understanding. When the time is right and the heart is open for the spirit to be fed, we feed that soul. In time, a good strong faith will be built on our Lord’s words; the spirit grows into a deep Christian Faith, building even stronger in worship with others in fellowship.
My children learned much that summer with our sowing the seeds of the geranium plants, watching the difference in what each seed would do, and how each would respond to water, food and the sun. They knew the pots had to be turned so much each day to keep them growing up straight and strong. They also learn that you had to dead head so you would continue to get more flowers, which would multiply right in front of their eyes.
They learned we all have a pace with our faith, when we are ready to learn the words of our Lord, the Lord’s words will be the food that keeps our souls alive. Our actions and what we do for others is the first step in sowing seeds, it will help to maintain a strong and resolute stanch in our faith, that will continue to grow and we will commit and dedicate our lives to our Lord as we sow seeds in faith. Being steadfast and devoted to our Lord keeps our faith unwavering and sturdy.
They learned being faithful and committed to our faith makes one strong, it will indeed keep us resilient and growing in our faith as time goes by. They learned too they did not want to be ineffective ~ wishy-washy, indecisive and weak, unsure of what their spirit was telling them about their individual soul, which resides within each of us in our vessel where the Holy Spirit dwells. They learned they wanted the Holy Spirit to be with them always. They could talk with the Lord wherever they were and ask for stead fastness in their faith any time they felt they were conscious that they were losing their purposefulness to spread and sow the words of our Lord.
At the end of the season, they learned to collect the seeds from all the flower heads we had left for just that purpose. More seeds to be sown the following spring, the time of rebirth. PTL ….RaeDi
Mt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
Hos 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.”
Lk 8:5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.”
Gal 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Just remember ~ Gen 12:3 “You were blessed to be a blessing.”
Tags: Reap Sow Geranium Faith
