A Packet of Seeds

A few months ago, we were dealing with freezing temperatures and snow, snow, snow. The wind would whip right through you and we needed to wear layers. On one of the cold March winter days, my husband and I went shopping for our garden supplies. We knew spring would be coming and we had the day to spend together running errands. While in the store we saw many, many goodies to be had. Seeds of sweet corn, green beans, onions, peas, lima beans, potatoes, etc. It helped to think of things warmer as the snow piled up outside. As we approached the register to pay, a packet of seeds caught my eye. They weren't on my list and honestly I don't know what made me see them. A packet of "mixed wildflowers" it said on the outside. Both he and I looked at each other and decided it was a packet of weeds. But then, he said to me " you know, you could try them and if they are weeds we can just spray them with Roundup and start something else later". I thought about it for awhile and thought what was the harm? So, we left that day with arms full of goodies.

The weather changed and the garden was plowed, the seeds for veggies were planted. The potatoes were starting to pop from under the dirt and the onions were in nice neat rows. The sweet corn was coming up and we had to make sure the rabbits and groundhogs didn't eat it before it had a chance to grow! When I went to get the green bean seeds from the closet shelf I saw our packet of weeds, oh, I mean wildflowers. Oh no! I had forgotten to plant them. I asked Bob to till up the soil in a sunny location and thought I would just see what happens. I was later than the directions said and Maggie thought the fresh dirt and moist soil was something she could and should play in. I sprinkled the seeds on top and lightly hoed a bit of dirt over top and walked away.

Imagine my surprise when a few quick short weeks later, tall blades of green were taking over the mud bed. I still thought they sure look like weeds. Bob wasn't too sure either that flowers were coming, but we decided to wait it out.

Today I took pictures.

 

 



As you can see, they are not weeds. They are beautiful wildflowers! Just as the packet said they would be. I smile as I walk past them and I even had our daughters come look at them.

Where is all this going? If you have read my posts in the past, you know God is in this post. As I thought back over the process, we are like those seeds. We may at first glance not look like much. We may compare ourselves to others and think we have nothing to offer. We think we aren't able to speak like he does. We aren't able to play an instrument. We aren't able to write beautiful songs, poems or messages. We aren't wealthy like they are, so we can't begin to do the things "they" do. The world looks at us and we at them and we all look the same, like the seeds.

But you see, God doesn't see plain simple seeds. He sees the beautiful creation you will be. He plants us in a garden that needs us. He plants us in a place that needs the special qualities only we can perform. I couldn't play a single note of anything to save my life. But I can teach, I can study His Word and share it. I can't financially buy everything the church needs, but I can give each week and that all adds up to something the church can use.

If you look closely at the pictures, go ahead scroll up and look, I will wait...there are many types of flowers. They aren't all the same plants. Some are taller, some are more colorful, some are short and are barely taller than the grass. There are also bees, bugs and even a grasshopper living life to the fullest because of those flowers. If we all had the same gifts and talents, it would get boring. If I could play an instrument, would I enjoy the music as much as I do at church, or would I be listening so carefully to see if they played it correctly. I don't listen for the missed note, I listen for the beauty of it.

I believe that when God looks at His garden He sees the beautiful flowers we will become. He needs to pull some weeds every now and then, you know those bad habits we have and the sins we need to confess, and then He sends just enough rain (showers of blessings) and sun(His Son) to help us grow. We grow as long as we have breath. My flowers will die soon, but the flowers in His garden (you and I) will all live different lengths of time on earth, but we all have to face the question of eternity. He placed you in a garden here to flourish with His help, but you get to decide where you will spend eternity. Will it be Heaven or Hell. That is our only two choices. By not picking one, you pick the other.

As the saying goes...Bloom where you have been planted. Unlike me who almost forgot and then just sprinkled them on the ground and walked away more sure they wouldn't survive than survive, you have been placed exactly where you should be. With the Holy Spirit's help and guidance, you can bloom just where you are, or maybe it is time for you to be transplanted to another part of the Master's giant garden. If so, hold on tightly to His hand and look for His leading as you get used to your new surroundings. If He moved you, it was for His purpose.