Little Seeds

When my husband and I bought our house, it came with a garden.  It was quite a large garden to be in town.  We decided we would try to keep it up, and planted all kinds of vegetables this year.  We tried to start the seeds indoors first when it was still cold out so that they would have more of a chance when they were planted.  As time passed, some of the seeds matured, and we planted the tiny little plants.  We have 2 sunflowers right now that came from little seeds I began inside that are now over 10 feet tall.  Unfortunately, many of the seeds we tried to nurture in the warmth of our home, never got past a seedling.

It makes you wonder why some seeds "make it" and some don't.  Why is that two similar seeds can be in the same environment and treated with delicate care, yet only one survives?  It could be that one seed had a tiny defect that could not be seen.  It could be that the one type needed an environment that could provide even more care.  It could be that we didn't realize how it needed to be treated in the first place since every seed is unique.

Now, suppose the seeds are human beings.  Some seeds survive no matter what the environment or treatment they are given.  They grow up through obstacles and bear fruit.  Others can't endure such harsh conditions.  They become deformed, useless and are cast aside.  Some are just so delicate they were never meant to live on this earth, so they never grow up.

When you think about the conditions we need to grow into productive, competent members of society, it's pretty amazing how everything needs to be just right.  It's amazing how many things must be overcome.  Every seed planted is one God plants himself.  He knows about each one.  He knows that some have to fight off bugs, weeds and animals in order to survive.  He knows how hard it can be to be a decent human being.  It's nice to know that he is always rooting for us, no matter how old we are or what stage in development.  He gives us opportunities to be fertilized and weeded around.  He protects us from the one that wants to devour us.

I am thankful today for his green thumb.  I am thankful that he sees how I've grown and smiles as we do when we look at our garden.  And I am especially grateful today that he sends refreshing waters to feed my soul in the form of himself through others.  What a blessing.

Blooms of Spring

As Spring begins to reveal itself, buds bring about hope and the promise of something beautiful to come.  Tiny little buds tell us that something more is to come.

I wonder though...what happens to those buds that just don't bloom?  They are frozen in time.  All of the hope we had for them turns to disappointment as we discard them for buds that have bloomed.  They never become what they could have.

I think about how many buds have started to sprout in my life, but fallen by the wayside.  I think about what was missed if only I had fed and nourished what was growing.  I think it was good to starve some things from growing anymore.  It would have been futile to keep trying to make a bud become what it was never intended to be...anything more than a bud.  On the other hand, great beauty was lost, because I didn't foster those buds that would have become something different and good in my life.

I love that Spring comes every year.  That new beginnings arise from the dark cold of winter.  It gives me hope that God can make life grow anywhere and in any temperature.