One Day In A Garden

I received this fantastic photo on my timeline a while ago. It immediately made me remember how I had carved a ‘smiling face’ on one of my immature Mammoth Sunflower heads years ago and how much my 2-year-old grandson loved it as he daily watched its growth and its smile getting bigger and bigger! It also reminded me how much can be gained by the simple planting of just one seed. Of hope. Of care. Of love.

When I think about the fact that one seed that was covered over completely by the darkness of the soil, looking like it had no life in it, but then was given new life and rose up again in a new and glorious body I am still amazed, even after almost 50 years of gardening. What a beautiful and marvellous world God has created!

Most importantly, when I ponder the amazing life of seeds I am reminded of Jesus! Our Saviour, Our Big Brother and very Best Friend! He accepted the will of His Father and when He was crucified (covered by the weight of the sins of all people), was buried in darkness and 3 days later emerged in a glorious & resurrected body! Through the new immortal life that He gained we too, as His followers have been given a new life Every day the seeds of faith grow, through the power of the Holy Spirit, within us. In turn, we can sow seeds that will one day bear Fruit (of the Spirit) Galatians 5:22-23, thereby changing and enriching lives around us. Fruit that bears a close resemblance to the smiling face, not of a Mammoth Sunflower, but of our Brother!

Can you think of some ways that you may have seeded smiles of love or any of the other 9 Fruit of the Spirit? How may you have bestowed beauty, or generated warmth in a neighbour's life? Maybe your sowing came through in your gifts or talents in baking, singing, gardening, or repairing autos. Whatever the way(s) you are growing you can be sure that it is due to the deep love our Father has for us and the obedience of His Son despite our darkness of sinfulness.

Let us give joyous praise to the Master Gardener who has given us so many ways to sow Good Seed in His gardening treasury - our neighbour's lives - as we travel Homeward!

Take good care, keep growing, and keep singing!
Rose Naomi

"I will sing praise to ADONAI, my God, as long as I live." Psalm 104:33a