When I went outside to take the picture of the tomato plant, I took a quick peak at the other plants I have on our deck. I noticed our basil plant. It has done wonderfully this year. I have already harvested from it and have batches of pesto in the freezer for the coming months. Basil thrives on an abundance of water—which they have definitely had.
Isn’t it beautiful! Look at its color and leaves in comparison to my sad, sorry tomato plant. This plant was exposed to the same elements, the same amount of rain. However, because of where it is positioned on my deck, in comparison to the tomato, it has received more sun. My tomato plant is in a hanging basket which I have attached to the sun canopy. The canopy shades the plant some and I’d say it was a tad too much this year. The basil plant is wired to the corner of the deck that receives morning sun, then shade as the sun goes around the house and then full sun again for the remainder of the day. I think it was that morning sun that made all the difference this year.
Just a reminder to myself to spend some of my morning in the sunlight with Him. When I get that morning sun, it seems to make all the difference in my day and—I believe—in my personal, godly growth.
Please don’t get so frustrated with the lack of spiritual growth that you may be seeing that you forsake your growth altogether. Kind of like how I have grown frustrated with my vegetables and have given up on them for the most part.
Lack of attention will never fertilize the roots, nor care for the weeds that are likely to sprout.
My basil does not get THAT much more sun than the tomato, but it was enough. You don’t need to spend hours in the Bible to see a difference.
May I suggest asking God to lead you to a specific Bible study or to a certain book of the Bible and taking just one or two chapters...even just a few verses...read over them, think over them, ask questions of them and then ask God what He would like to show you today from His word.
Sit quietly at His feet for awhile and just soak Him up. That’s all it takes, really.
Having cultivated ground, a willingness to let His seeds of truth be planted, standing confidently in the rainstorms, tending to the weeds and the “slugs”. Then always facing the Son. That’s how the garden of our soul grows...
“Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the LORD
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”
Hosea 10:12
By the way, things are looking up around here for my vegetable garden. The weather man changed his prediction to include some sunny days in the 80’s! I may get a little more produce out of the ground yet! Although, I think my kids would just as soon see the slugs devour the beets... :)
