The Simple Seed
A rack of seeds would be a sad sight indeed if we didn’t know their potential.
It’s basically a display of dead things with pretty pictures on the cover. That is, until some inspired, energetic person buys the seeds, prepares just the right soil, and does the planting.
And a seed can only be what it was created to be. A geranium seed cannot become a rose, and a rose seed cannot become an orange.
If the seed is lucky enough to be planted, and if it is to blossom, it will have to end up in fertile ground or the right kind of soil for that seed. But some seeds don’t have those advantages, and they end up in dry, infertile dirt.
Kind of like us.
Some of us were born and planted into a very nurturing environment where whatever natural gifts and talents God put into our DNA were developed. We grew. So far, life has seemed easy.
Some of us were planted on rocky soil without the best cultivation of the seeds within us. We have had to work hard to overcome difficult circumstances and sometimes wonder, “Why me?’ when we see others who seem to thrive, almost as if they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.
Some of us are not as bright or talented as others but, planted into the right environment, we have flourished. Most of us were not born with the gifts of a Mozart or a Hemmingway, yet, using what God gave us at birth, and a good environment, we have done just fine in life.
Which of these environments best describes your life? Think about it.
From time to time, many of us have had to wrestle with envying the natural gifts, abilities, and skills that others have. But since we don’t always know their back story, we may not understand that they have had to work hard, too, to blossom into who they are. For example, one of my shy friends wishes she could be an extrovert and, even though she tries her best to come out of her shell, it is just difficult for her, while my other friend captivates a room the minute she walks into it.
No matter whether our environment has been or is now in rich or rocky soil, sometimes life has a way of reaching up when we least expect it, surrounding us with weeds, and choking us out. At those times when we are faced with disappointment, financial loss, poor health, sickness of those we love, death of a loved one, loneliness, as in this pandemic, and even depression, what can we do?
The question for me is, can I surrender the seed of my life, the circumstances of my life, and accept who I am, and not fret that I cannot be an apple or a rose?
Can I learn to blossom into what God meant me to be, no matter what I am, whether I am a geranium instead of a rose? Will I use what I am given to cultivate what I can, and not fret that I cannot be an apple or a rose?
After all, the grass will always seem greener on the other side, but we are each created uniquely, so envy is just a distraction from our purpose. Most of us started with our own plan – plan A, all figured out. But instead, along came life, and we find ourselves in Plan B or C.
But just maybe Plan C is God’s plan for me after all. So today I choose to trust that He will help me learn to flourish within His plan.
I encourage you to join me as we each choose to bloom where we are planted.
But that’s another story!
Enjoy reading Annie’s recently published inspirational memoir, THAT ONE PERSON, by Annie Farris, written to encourage you in these challenging times. Now available on Amazon for $15.95, and Kindle for $9.99. Endorsed by Pat Boone and 18 others with numerous 5 star reviews. It makes a great gift!