Growing in Grace

It is so therapeutic for me to spend time outdoors and work in my garden again. This time of year, is a time for hope as seeds are planted with the potential of growth and trees begin to bud with the promise of fruit to come.

My days alternate between tending the seedlings in my greenhouse and cleaning up my flower gardens so that they are ready for perennials to emerge and seeds and seedlings to be planted. This myriad of tasks all has the purpose of preparing and nurturing. Without this time spent, I would not have as an effective of a garden. It would be much more difficult to later reap any kind of productive harvest.

I enjoy plotting and planning with visions of beautiful flowers and abundant produce running through my brain. All this does not come to fruition however, without lots of hard work and special care of and attention to the needs of each type of plant.

What begins as tiny seeds turns into plants that are ready to thrive in the garden. But it is not as simple as all that. While these plants are growing there is careful climate control needed in the greenhouse and appropriate moisture and humidity. When it becomes close to the date the plants can be moved to the larger garden, they must gradually spend more and more time outdoors to harden off so they can withstand the harsher conditions outside the greenhouse.

Finally, it is time to plant the various vegetables and flowers outside. It is an exciting day for me to finally see my plants have an appropriate home where they can flourish. But time is needed with each plant. As I pull each one from its encasing, I view all the roots closely intertwined. In order to have the plants grow well I must break up the roots a bit and spread them out. If I were to leave the roots all balled up together the plant would have a much lower success rate for survival.

I feel like those plants some days. Sometimes I feel like I would like to stay in my small little seed starting compartment. It’s cozy but in the long run I wouldn’t be able to grow much. Sooner or later my roots would have nowhere to go and become a matted mess. I need my Heavenly Father taking me out of my comfort zone and transplanting me into a new and better location. I need His assistance to spread my roots in a new spot that He has chosen specifically for me.

I am encouraged by God’s Word in 2 Peter:

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV)

As there are many factors that influence the growth of a plant, so there are many things that can either hinder or help us as we grow in God’s grace. May you know the wondrous love of our Heavenly Father who helps us each to grow and develop into the person He wants us to be.

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