Thursday, March 10, 2011

PLANTING SEEDS

"What’s that you have, little girl?" asked the stranger with the kind eyes.

"It’s a tiny seed," she replied.

"What are you going to do with it?" he asked.

"Well, at first I just put it on a shelf, but then it got all shriveled and dried out. Then I decided to hold it really tight in my hand, all the time, but then it got all soggy and limp. So, I’ve decided I’m going to plant it."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" said the kind stranger. "Where are you going to plant it?"

The little girl looked puzzled.

"I’m not sure."

"Well, I know a great place to plant it!" he said with a smile.

"Really?!" she squealed.

"Really."

So the kind stranger led the little girl to a tiny patch of dirt, in an obscure little field, and pointed to a place next to a large tree.

"Here is the perfect place for this seed to be planted."

The little girl looked doubtful.

It didn’t seem like the area was very conducive to growth. It looked rather inhospitable, and dry. The ground was hard, and the little patch of dirt was in the shade. But, too embarrassed to disagree with the kind stranger, she started to dig up the dirt.

And then, when the little hole was dug, she glanced back up at the stranger.

"Should I put the seed in the dirt now?"

"Yes, absolutely. It’s exactly the right time for it to be planted."

So she did.

For days, the little girl would come and check where she had buried the seed. She saw nothing happening…nothing at all.

The dirt looked even drier, the ground looked even harder. There were weeds growing everywhere. The shadow of the tree was blocking out the sunlight.

One day, very discouraged, she just sat down and started crying.

Almost instantly, she became aware that she wasn’t alone.

She looked up and saw the silhouette of the stranger.

"What’s wrong?" he asked kindly.

"My seed isn’t growing," she sniffed. "I didn’t think this was a very good place for it to grow."

"It’s the perfect place for it to grow," he reassured her. "It just needs a gardener."

"Well, I don’t know anything about how to grow seeds, and I don’t know any gardeners," she sighed.

"Ah, but that’s where you’re in luck," he said. "I am a master gardener. Will you let me help grow your seed?"

With no other alternative in mind, the little girl said, "Yes."

And the stranger got to work.

He cultivated the surrounding dirt, he yanked out the weeds, he spread fertilizer, and he watered the area around where the seed had been planted.

"There, that should take care of it until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" the little girl asked in surprise. "You mean you have to do this every day?"

"Yes," replied the stranger. "Seeds need tending every day if they are to grow."

Day after day, the little girl watched the stranger work. Every day he tended the seed. And before she knew it, under his watchful care, a sprout broke through the surface and began to grow.

She was delighted.

One day, the stranger approached her. He still had the kindest eyes.

"So, what do you think? I told you that seed would grow!"

"Yes, you did. But it only grew under your care," she replied.

"But that’s how it’s supposed to happen. Only a master gardener knows how and when and where to grow a seed."

"Will it grow very big?" she asked him seriously.

He paused for a moment…

"Time will tell. But see that large tree right next to your growing seed?"

She looked to where he was pointing.

"Yes, I see it."

"Well, I planted that one, too."

And with that, he winked at the little girl, as she stared at the tree in amazement!


Are you giving your seed to the Master Gardener?

Letting Him do His work of cultivating and weeding – fertilizing and watering?

Can you trust that in His timing, your seed will become a mighty tree?


Plant your seeds, my friends – and have faith…


"You don’t have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." (Matthew 17:20)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

10 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon -

    What a cute touching story with such truth in it.

    Yes, our Lord is the MASTER GARDENER. It is so impressive how he uniquely cares for each of us.
    We are His planted vessels and I love being in His garden with my floral friends in His body.
    There are roses, lilies, orchids, petunias, gladiolas, ferns, and so much more...

    I am glad to be his potted plant thirsty for my daily water and Miracle grow. I delight in being saturated with our Lord's loving, tender and gentle care. He talks to me and I talk back with much eagerness and love. Sometimes He pulls up the weeds in my pot - ouch! But after that is done, I thrive on. Oh, to flourish in the MASTER'S greenhouse. There is SONSHINE aplenty.

    Thank you, Lord!

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  2. very nice story Sharon! I can see this being made into a children's book on faith, know what I mean? With illustrations of the planting, etc. But it is so true, we need to trust in our Lord's cultivating of us and his timing; something we always need to remember and wait upon :)

    another beautiful day down here!

    betty

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  3. What a wonderful story with a profound truth. Thank you for the reminder. :)

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  4. Hi Sharon,

    Yes clinging too and watering my mustard seed. Hope you are okay, read your comment on my blog last night, keeping you in prayer - God Bless - Nita

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  5. Love this Sharon! IT is so true that for a seed to grow it needs to be 'tended' to every day! Praying I will continue to 'tend' my seed and make sure I get those nasty weeds out too so it will grow!

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  6. I think the hardest part is planting the seed in the first place. Letting the master gardener cultivate them is when we give it over and give up control. But, we HAVE to plant it.

    Great story! Hope you're doing okay - still on the road?

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  7. Sandra - I just love how you take my stories and just expand the imagery!! This sounds like another post potential for you! Truly, can you hardly wait to flourish in the Master's Greenhouse in Eternity??? Me neither!!

    Betty - A book?! Really? Thanks for that. In the past, I've thought about doing a children's book - it would be very, very hard - but I just might think about that again. My youngest son is very artistic - maybe he could be my illustrator!

    Shelly - Thanks. I just thought I'd do a little something different. And this story came to my mind, as I think about having the courage to plant my seed - branching out into some other speaking and writing ventures. I need the Master Gardener's tending, more than ever!

    Nita - Thanks, friend. I'm doing OK. Just really tired. This out of town travel isn't as easy as it used to be when I was younger! You're in my prayers, too. Isn't your baptism soon - or did I forget and it's already happened?? Let me know.

    Nicole - Glad you liked it. Oh yes, those pesky weeds!! Sometimes I just sorta pull them out a little bit, on the surface. But I need to ask God to really dig out those roots!!

    Jennie - Yes, I'd have to agree. I all too often do not plant the seed. I kinda had that in mind, as I'm contemplating some new ministry opportunities. I'm sorta afraid to "plant" - but I'm trusting that My Gardener knows what He's doing! Yup, still on the road in Chicago. How'd the interview go?

    GOD BLESS!

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  8. Hi Sharon,

    Glad you are okay - thank u for your prayers. My baptism is on the 3rd April, at 4.30. p.m. God Bless - Nita

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  9. Thanks, Nita - will put that on my calendar. You're in my thoughts and prayers!

    GOD BLESS!

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  10. I love this! Can we use it for the next Sanctified Together Publication www.sanctifiedtogether.com? The theme is summer and I think this is a perfect fit! Email me at sanctifiedtogether@gmail.com if it is okay.

    Thanks for being such an amazing writer Sharon!

    -Alisa

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)