Getting seedy

I’m gardening but I got a late start. We bought a few plants but I wanted an explosion of color and our budget didn’t allow for buying more plants so I used the seeds that I have been saving for the last couple of years.

Some of these seeds are from our garden down on D street in Ephrata so they are at least 5 years old. What surprised me about my seed hoard is that I had zero zinnia seed. I love zinnias. If only they were more fragrant. Anyway today on the first day of summer we were at home depot and I bought some zinnia seeds.

When we got home my lethargic side wanted to toss them onto my seed pack pile and go take a nap. Instead I ripped them open, poured them all into a container and then planted them all.

If only 10 percent germinate we will have raised bed that is riotous with color.

Spiritual metaphor time.

Our words of love and faith and hope are seeds of encouragement. If we don’t say those nice words there will be less encouragement. Sometimes people are desperate for just a simple “atta-boy”.

What happens to words not spoken? The words not spoken are like the seeds in my pile of seed packets and my pharmacy pill bottles. They stay dormant. A seed has to be planted in order to grow. A word has to be spoken in order to be heard.

I would like my speach to become full of riotous praise. I would like to become an encouragement planter. And I want to dump it all out. No words of encouragement left sitting silent inside my brain and never making it out of my mouth.

The apostle Paul said this in his letter to the Romans about the importance of speaking “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Paul was talking about the good news of the Gospel which is the universal encouragement. Good news, you are loved and forgiven and Invited to join Gods family.

Proverbs 25:11 says more about the right word at the right time.

“ A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

Paul spoke encouragement to the believers like in Acts 20:2 He (Paul) traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,

The summation: I will never get a harvest from seeds not sown. Even if I start late it’s better to plant the seeds than to leave them until next year. Likewise, people around me will not be edified or built up by words I don’t say. Even if I have been stingy with praise or encouragement I can start today.

Will you join me? Before you go to sleep tonight, Encourage someone today.