The power of encouragement consistently given and the potential within
I went on a mission trip this summer to a remote part of my country where the climate is extremely hot and the soil is arid like a desert. There were mountains in the distant horizon with the green color of hope. Regardless, there were areas diligently cultivated that showed results of well-watered and tended care given.
Upon returning home I was surprised by something I had not expected at all. I had watered my house plants well enough to hold off until my return. Among my plants there was a ‘new’ sprout. In the spring I had repotted a plant and within that soil was something I had forgotten, a seed. Well, after almost a month of ‘neglect’ it is growing in all of its beautiful glory. All the instructions were in the seed, I only watered. I did not even know it was there in the depth of that pot. I was just making sure that the plant that I did see was able to stay nourished until I returned and could care once again for it.
This morning, as I prepare to return to work on Monday, I saw more evidence of that same seed in another pot. Somehow, this past spring as I reused the soil in other repotted plants, I have spread that plant. I used soil that had seeds laying dormant (dead to me), until water came along and brought like to the seed that had all the information within itself to sprout once again, to grow and to visually display the LIFE within.
I think of all the students who transitioned to other schools, moved on to the next grade and of the new incoming ones as seeds. I think of all the people our team showed love and care, in those very harsh conditions this July, as seeds.
The seeds have power to do what is was created to do and to do so as it is tendered, cared and watered. That is like on to encouragement, consistent intentional care by those we serve, love and live with.
The current condition of our global communities, our countries and Nations, our States, Cities, towns and neighborhoods are dried and arid. How wonderful it would be if we all just took the time to water, nurture and care for each other.
The theme for the mission trip this summer was simple but challenging: ‘To Love like Jesus loves us”
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” ~John 15:12 NIV
How has Jesus LOVED You?
God’s word in us is like “living water’. God himself identifies with being a spring of living water in the book of Jeremiah 2:13
God’s word is also the ‘seed’ that a sower plants in different soils. In Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 you can read all about it.
Personally, I can neither water nor sow seeds on my own human ability or strength. I need continual guidance, wisdom, love and strength from the True Source of Life. He is the living water and His is the seed. I hope and pray that we daily recognize our need and dependance on God. To impact my circles of influence I need to acknowledge and humbly seek God’s presence for seed and water.
