Planting Seeds

November was my second born's birth month and she has informed me it was “AWESOME!” I try to do a big event for certain birthdays, turning ten is big because it’s the start of two digits! So we try to do something for each kid that challenges them and pushes them out of their comfort zone and into something new. For Weston we went ziplining across the TX hill country, I’ll confess some of those lines scared me even but he did the same lines despite his fear of heights and had a blast! He wants to go again sometime. For Alera we went horseback riding across the Terlingua canyons and cliff faces. My mom got to come along and even this wild child confessed she got a little nervous traversing along those canyon walls! It was an incredible experience! Especially since this was Alera’s first time riding.

Yep, you heard right my mom got to visit. Such a beautiful time we had despite my endless work schedule. I’m thankful that she got to spend thanksgiving with my family. I, however, did not and that was a new experience for our family for me to be working on a holiday. Unfortunately Christmas will likely end up the same. It’s a new experience for us all to have to break up traditions and find new ways of treasuring our time together.

For a bit there, it truly felt like I was just walking through the dark. All you know to do when walking through the dark is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’d hear the echo of my voice rattling in my head “is this my life now?” We tried to escape the rat race only to end up right back in it?? What is this nonsense?

And then I remember this is only for a season. And I’m here to share Gods love. So no matter how dark the path gets my biggest focus should be to allow God to fill my cup so I can shine light on this path. No matter how mundane I just have to keep answering His call. And although I may not always get to see the fruits of my labor I can’t forget that every second God may be using me to plant seeds!

Whether it be planted seeds with that coworker who’s difficult to get along with by continuing to be kind. Or maybe I can plant seeds with my missionary sisters as I remind them of Gods truth. Maybe it’s planting seeds with doing my work to the best of my ability and with a happy spirit in the midst of my coworkers who are tired. Maybe I can plant seeds by showing kindness and going the second mile for guests.

Always planting seeds.

Whether they are positive or negative and that is where I should be warned. If I don’t lean into the strength of my Lord, if I forget to stay humble and boast in my weakness, if I snap and don’t admit my faults and flaws, then I can plant negative seeds too.

I don’t want to just go through the motions.

I want to know that I am centering my eyes on above and sharing that light that God has placed within me. It’s not my own light, it’s from Him. If I don’t seek Him out then my light may dim.

My kids are pyromaniacs… odd switch I know but it reminded me of this. My daughter is constantly lighting sticks on fire when we have a bonfire. She’s always frustrated that her fiery stick will eventually go out. She constantly has to seek out the roaring flame once more so she can continue her song of “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

We’re not expected to stay lit.

We’re not expected to always have it all together.

This is why we have the Bible, but are you using it?

This is also why we have fellowship, but are we being real while also allowing others to be real too?

This is why we have God to be our strength, but are we relying on Him or are we still trying to do things our own way?

And as I said; we often won’t get to see the fruits of our labor, sometimes those seeds were planted without our awareness even! But I’d much rather know I’m leaning into Gods strength so I can plant positive seeds.

Sometimes however, we do get to see those seeds turn into seedlings!

That was my biggest blessing during this past month of gratitude. Those little moments of guests who would let me know I helped turn their trip into a true vacation. Or those coworkers who admit that they know they can ask me for encouragement or help. Or those strangers who walk in and say “you don’t know me but I know you, I’ve been told so many good things about you.”

Wow!

That’s probably why I like this picture so much. There’s a pathway leading into the darkness. In the distance you can see the hopeful wisps of magnificent light but the path ahead isn’t lit for very far. And I’m standing here knowing I have a choice. Will I trust the Lord or will I lean on my own understanding? One choice leaves me with peace and allows me to plant positive seeds as I walk, the other choice leaves me confused and questioning every turn and I can only plant out of my own capacity which fyi isn’t very positive.

So no matter how exhausted I am, I am able to continue forward because I am living in the love of my Heavenly Father. He is my strength. He fills my cup and therefore I am able to constantly pour into others.  

Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this read: please like, comment, share or follow. It truly does help my page get into the feeds of new people and hopefully continue to plant seeds on social media.