Last summer we sowed wildflower seeds across a large section of our back hillside. It is a rocky, sandstone area with lots of weeds and wild growth. We cultivated the area to ensure good seed contact with the soil, we kept the area moist, and it certainly got lots of sunshine. Yet we were disappointed with the outcome. Last summer, only a precious few wildflowers popped up on the hill, despite hundreds of seeds being dispersed. Disappointing to say the least!
Much to my shock, THIS summer, a huge swatch of the hillside was covered with wildflowers! WHAT. I never saw these guys last year. The seed laid there all summer, through the winter, and finally germinated this spring. I could not have been more surprised to see all these flowers popping up over a year later!
Because the culture of the Bible time period was largely agrarian, there are many many sowing and seed references in the Bible. But in this season of life, what I found particularly encouraging about this object lesson of the delayed wildflower bloom is found in Galatians and Isaiah.
Galatians 6:9 says “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 says, “10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
As a mom, I am spending a ton of time sowing into the lives of my children. And it is not always so rewarding. This is especially so because we are raising a child with special needs. It is challenging. Summers are very hard with their lack of structure, long lazy days, and slower pace. None of this is helpful for my Sophie-girl. This summer her anxiety and OCD have reared their ugly heads in full force. I feel like I sow the same truths into my kids’ lives MANY times a day, but all that I am seeing is that sparse wildflower or two that I saw on the hillside last year. It is encouraging to me to know that those seeds may lie there for quite some time, but they will eventually accomplish the purpose for which God had me sow them. If I do not give up, the harvest will eventually come in their lives. Someday they won’t use potty language from sun-up to sun-down! Someday they will WANT to brush their teeth… Someday they will become more grateful people…. The seeds are there, and God IS making them grow, even if I can’t see it right now.
God’s Word also makes it clear that HE is the one who makes the seed grow (Mark 4:27-28, I Corinthians 3:6-7). My job is to be obedient, faithful, and PATIENT with these children. Whether you are in my season of life or not, I imagine there is a situation coming to your mind just now. Most of us are in a long game of some sorts no matter where we’re at in life. Be encouraged today not to give up. Let’s keep in mind this great verse from Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” It may take a long time to see the beauty from the seed you sowed, but keep on and you will see it eventually.
Catherine Burleigh
Tablet of Her Heart