I’m reading a thirty-day devotional and today’s made me really ponder. This post began as a short status update but morphed into this post.
Today’s reading is called “Farming Your Seed”
How often I act and parent as though I can literally control every aspect of my children and family. When, in reality, all I CAN control is myself and what I impart. The receiving is up to them. My task is to plant the seeds and determine the care needed to foster proper growth.
Depending on what you’re growing, it is key to soften the soil and maybe even add some dirt and compost. Can I really say I’ve done my due diligence if I neglect to properly assess the planting area? If I neglect to properly care for the plants before, during and after I plant them; am I doing my job or just putting on a front?
Too often have I ended a seemingly pointless battle with my five-year-old over his attitude, in wrought frustration and feeling like a failure. “He cannot treat others this way!” I have murmured to myself through heated and sometimes tearful breaths. While it’s true, I likely neglected to properly prepare the soil. Don’t be confused, I know I’m not God; I cannot prepare his heart. I can, however; toil the planting area before I toss my seed and expect growth.
Whatever you’re cultivating in this season, it’s all a process:
Prepare – Know your Seed
The soil must be properly prepared; be it toiling, adding nutrients, soaking; etc. Sometimes the seeds need to be dried or peeled prior to planting. A good farmer knows what needs to be prepared and takes action.
Plant – Know your Soil
So many aspects affect this stage. How deep? How moist? How much sun? How much shade? How much natural water? Is it protected from animals or the cold? The list could go on. Know your soil, know your seed.
Provide – Consistency
As the farmer, you provide care, protection, and nutrition. There’s pruning, guiding of vines/branches; protection from too much or too little light, too much heat or cold, animals and insects; adding plant food and watering. When nothing sprouts, you don’t stop watering.
Procure – Reap a Harvest
This is the part we usually love or hate the most. Sometimes it’s quick and swift; sometimes it’s long and agonizing. Part of knowing your plants is to know when to harvest, and how. I recently looked into harvesting tea. You need lots of plants, but it doesn’t take long and you break off part of the stalk, leaving two maybe three shoots for regrowth.
Propagate – Multiply
What good is farming if it ends after one harvest? The reaper must know how to propagate the seeds from the harvest to continue (or how to care for the plant to regrow new fruit). It’s important to remember that, we can only control our part in all of this. We can only do what we can do, and when it seems it’s not enough- trust the process and keep on watering your seeds – consistency is key.
Don’t lose hope when the seed doesn’t sprout or when the tree only flowers and doesn’t fruit; seek knowledge and remain consistent. Oh, and don’t be afraid to make measured and wise changes to see better growth.
“God, sometimes, I’m tempted to believe I’m responsible for everything and everyone. But that’s my way of trying to control the world. Help me to take my hands off the wheel. You’re in charge Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Happy Sowing and Reaping, my friends!
If you’d like to check out Vertical 30 day Discipleship Journey by Jeff Hoglen, click here! You won’t regret it. Promise.
If I’m not careful, I can get stuck on my yesterday. My failures from yesterday; the nostalgia of yesteryear. I have to remind myself of this concept regularly; but I really like how simple John says it. Yesterday ended last night. Today is new. Today matters. 
