The Master Gardener

Yesterday my son Jacob and I planted sunflower seeds in the field near our cabin. We planted seeds that will produce giant sunflowers that can grow up to 8 feet in height. At maturity,the face (the seeds) and petals get so big that they're almost the size of a paperplate. I love these majestic looking flowers. Late this summer into the early fall, they'll stand at attention, far above the other flowers that I've planted in the field.

Before we planted the seeds, we went off in search of the perfect spot for them. A spot that was not too rocky and that would get plenty of sunshine since these flowers thrive in the open sun. Once we found just the right spot, I dug the holes and Jacob put a seed in each of them and covered them with soil. He gave them some water and our job was done.

I can't wait to see those flowers all abloom this fall. Until I do, I'll have to make sure that they are taken care of. If our summers are as dry as they usually are, I'll have to make sure that they get plenty of water from my watercan. I'll also have to make sure that the plants aren't overtaken by weeds. That's about all I can do-the rest will be up to good ole' Mother Nature.

Thinking about these sunflowers makes me think about my children. I consider them "seeds" that my husband and I have planted. We have a responsibilty to make sure that they are well taken care of. We'll need to give them plenty of water (love, correction, Biblical teaching, validation, prayer, encouragement, etc). We'll also need to make sure the "weeds" of this world don't overtake them (peer pressure, compromising of beliefs, etc). That's about all we can do-the rest will be up to Him.

I can only see what's going on with my plants above the ground. I don't know what is going on down deep in the soil underneath. The same is true with my children. I can only see what is going on with my children on a surface level. He knows what is going on deep inside of each of them and, I can rest assured, He has everything under control.

So, I'll keep on watering, weeding, and tending my plants and trusting the Master Gardener.

"My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow." ~1 Cor 3:6