As a child growing up, I would often observe my parents exercise their role as gardeners within the confines of the small plot of land that surrounded our home. I wasn't much of an outdoorsy type but admired the time, patience and skill they honed in bringing life to simple seeds that they had sown in densely packed pots of soil. Back then, I was a happy recipient of the fruit of their labor.
Seeds.

They come in varying types, sizes, colors and have different sprouting times. Some seeds that lie dormant for months or years, are still viable for planting. The plants that are produced can thrive well during certain seasons and may endure for a few weeks, several months or extended years. There are seeds that produce a harvest through which food is provided for man and beast, and there are seeds which unveil lush landscapes of botanical flowers and ornate trees.
From a simple tiny seed, an overwhelming supply of its kind can be revealed. A good example is that of a watermelon, a large fruit whose source is a small seed in which is embedded multiple seeds of its kind. Another great example is that of an ear of corn which has multiple kernels; just one kernel can produce a tall stalk of multiple ears of corn, each of which also has several seeds (or kernels.)
It's a fascinating phenomenon that exists within this planet.
Weeds.

The antithesis of what seeds are, weeds serve no purpose to humanity, other than to be a menace to the avid gardener. Weeds have a tendency to grow at a rapid rate, spread in wild abandon, and can be a stronghold to growing plants by depriving them of their nutrients. Weeds can somehow thrive and survive in any condition and growth can only be terminated by targeting their roots with a specific substance geared for such destruction. Certain grass types and winding vines are weeds that exhibit toxic behavior to growing plants.
Seeds and Weeds. When they are together, it is a battle for life.
It takes the patience of a saint to keep healthy plants well-watered, nurtured and free from toxic environmental elements. There's much work that must be done to maintain a young seedling through to its mature state, and though it may be tiring and tedious, the results are phenomenal! A satisfied gardener will be richly rewarded for the fruit of his labor...literally and figuratively speaking.
Much like fruits and vegetables, humans are also "seeded" with gifts and talents from their Creator.
From birth, each individual is endowed with certain abilities that are unique and specific to them. Someone may lean toward the artistic; another may excel at communication; another may exhibit a knack for numbers; and yet, another may be skilled in designing elaborate architectural buildings.
It’s been said that there are 800,000 plants in the world and the conditions required for growth vary. There are as many talents as there are plants if not more. In this case, it is imperative that we become the gardeners of our lives and tend to the seeds that God has implanted within us.
We need to discover what those seeds are and tend to them accordingly, nurturing them and honing the skills from which they are derived.
We need to be alert regarding the possible weeds that could disrupt or hinder that growth. Weeds, such as worldly distractions, negativity related to words spoken or to the environment around us, and lack of time management are potential hazards and are not conducive to such growth.
We should also be wary of allowing our gifts to become dormant, or avoid burying them altogether. I recall a quote by popular motivational speaker, Les Brown, who said:
“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”
Once our seeds are discovered and identified, we must ensure that great care is taken with the seedlings by exercising practical methods: watering, nurturing, fertilizing and yes, even pruning. This process doesn't happen overnight but is a time-consuming one, which yields beneficial results, not only for the gardener but for those with whom he will share his bounty.
Our "seed gifts" are not to serve ourselves but to serve others and become a blessing to them in return. As they are helped with what they have received from us, they too can continue to share what they have learned, with those who they encounter in their own daily lives.
And so, the gift goes on. The seed multiplies.
To think: a simple seed, when sown, tended to and cared for, can release a perpetual state of bliss into the world around us.
Let us, therefore, use our seeded gifts from God to do the same.
I believe that, as the Ultimate Gardener of our lives, He will be pleased to see us as His thriving plants, being productive as He originally planned.
コメント