Sowing Beauty

Its tall, vibrant raspberry color contrasted the lush greenery perfectly. Each petal carefully creating a delicate, yet stately, tower of its deep hue. It was beautiful to behold.

I like instant gratification. I like to see results quickly. To enjoy the fruit of my labor with little delay. Let's call it what it is: impatience. But as every parent knows, our job requires much patience...and lots of work.

This strickingly beautiful bloom did not simply appear overnight. Its gardner did not just throw a seed onto the ground and walk away hoping for the best. No. It took time. It took care. And it took patience. 

The same is true of our children (whether our own or those special souls that we have chosen to disciple and walk alongside of). The seeds we sow into their lives, more times than not, will not bear fruit immediately. But it will indeed bear fruit - whether good or bad. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will reap also." Galatians 6:7. Let us take great care in how and what we sow into their lives (and our own)!

Just like this majestic blossom, sowing beautiful blooms within our children's lives will take time. It will take intentional care. It will take occasional pruning. And it will take a lot of patience. We, as parents, must be regularly watering their hearts, minds, and souls with the truth of God's Word if we desire for it to transform and sanctify their hearts. "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." John 17:17. We must be modeling the beauty of Christ-likeness in our own lives for our children to see and imitate (1 Corinthians 4:16).

This type of sowing, most often times, is slow, yet deliberate. We must be patient. We musn't grow weary and discouraged when we aren't seeing "results" in our timing. In the same way a flower first grows a bud before it blooms, so must the seeds in our children's hearts and lives. The delicate petals are forming underneath the rough protective folds. Their beauty yet to be revealed. Their development and unveiling is God's work (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). It is in His timing. He is the Master Gardner. He watches over all aspects of His garden. His garden is perfectly planted, watered, protected and displayed. And it is Him, and Him alone, that causes the beauty to burst forth from the dry ground. 

So, as I admire this gorgeous flower today, I am encouraged. I am encouraged to liberally and tirelessly do my part to tend and prepare the soil of my children's hearts, so that when the time comes, the seed might find good soil in which to thrive and grow (Matthew 13:18-23), knowing that even the smallest of seeds can later grow into the largest of trees (Matthew 13:31-32).

So, let us faithfully and joyfully do our part in working in God's garden. Let us be patient to trust Him to grow the seeds that we've planted and watered into these precious lives that He has entrusted to us. Because He is the Master Gardener and His blooms are exquisite!