It was a perfect storm Monday morning. Literally and psychologically. Outside the kitchen window, the thunder and lightening provided dramatic special effects and the rain poured down. Inside my head, another storm was brewing. I’m not sure if it was the combination of Fruit Loops and Coke Zero for breakfast or what, but my thoughts were like If You Give a Mouse A Cookie…
When it’s raining outside, it makes you sad.
But then you remember the rain will bring flowers, so you get happy.
And when you get happy, it reminds you of a great quote about flowers.
And then you think about that great quote, and you decide to write it on the kitchen chalkboard.
Some of you got lost with all that, and I’m sorry. I told you there was a storm in my head. { But seriously, that book is amazing! It was Logan and Cameron’s all-time fave, and the book is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. }
So I did put the flower quote
on my chalkboard.
I love it, and
it is so true.
And it got me to thinking…
not like the whole
mouse and cookie thing again,
but really thinking…
What are my seeds of today?
Is what I’m sowing making a difference?
Will what I sow bring about a harvest?
I think the most important garden each of us has is our family, especially our children. After all, Mom or Dad is really just a fancier name for gardener. As such, it is our job to plant the seeds, water and fertilize them, nurture and grow them, prune them when necessary, and even pull the weeds. There is no more important place for you to sow seeds today than in the lives of your children… no matter what age they are. And we have to realize that our words, actions, choices, and priorities all plant seeds in the lives of others. Are we planting comparison or confidence? beauty or worth? privilege or purpose? competition or community? political correctness or Truth? self or servant? longing or love? fame or faith?
All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop
if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance,
let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Happy planting!
{ P. S. Below are two pics my mouse brain immediately thought of when I was thinking about the seeds Brad and I have planted in our kids’ lives. These pictures are precious and treasured, and they show two good seeds we planted. But no doubt, some of the seeds we planted were bad and bore absolutely no fruit. And no doubt we left some pruning and weeds unattended. We clearly recognize that our kids are who they are today only by the grace of the Master Gardener.
On the left, this January 1993 photo shows me apparently wearing lipstick to bed. Evidently I thought it went with the hair. Actually, I’m certain I did not have lipstick on, so that leaves me wondering where that natural lip color went to. The cutie in bed with me is Logan. We had this special night time routine of reading in bed together before he went to his own bed in his own room for his own sleep. He was barely three in the picture, but he was a very early reader. He inherited my brown eyes and my love of all things books and reading. We still share books today!
On the right, this September 1994 photo is a very young looking Brad and a not quite two Cameron. Of course, age was not an issue for Cameron. He already thought he was big enough to drive the tractor. He came out of the womb loving all things outdoors. If Brad was on the tractor, then he wanted to be on the tractor. He was Brad’s constant shadow, and he acquired every engineer it, build it, fix it skill that Brad has and more. He is still Brad’s helper today, although Brad would probably tell you it’s the other way around.
And these pics leave me longing for the garden of grandchildren…
