Last month I put my big geranium plants outside.
I'd proudly nursed them along all winter by feeding, watering, turning, pruning.
I set them on the edge of our porch steps for all the world to see.
I know, I know, that was dumb. Colorado being the way it is, I should've known.
The weather turned.
My beautiful geraniums choked, gasped, turned brown. And died.
I promised myself I'd go down to the local nursery and buy new ones.
But yesterday, as I stepped out onto our front porch on my way to get the mail, something little and green caught my eye.
By golly, a sprig of life had sprouted from one of my potted geraniums.
I ran for my pruning scissors.
Cut off the old, dead stuff.
Watered.
Fed.
Cleaned the debris away.
Sure enough, new life.
Pristine.
Green, moist life swelling from the old stalks.
That plant is hardy.
Sometimes a hard and icy spell threatens to freeze the life out of us.
But if the life within is hardy, well-rooted, nurtured by good soil,
we will recover and grow beautiful again.
Perhaps more beautiful.
My geranium plant probably wouldn't have survived its cold snap had I not carefully tended and nurtured it throughout the winter.
Just so, as believers, we need the constant nourishment and training of God's Word so that when hard times come, we'll be able to withstand the pressure.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree, planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of strife, and never fails to bear fruit." (Jer. 17: 7,8 NIV Bible)
I'd proudly nursed them along all winter by feeding, watering, turning, pruning.
I set them on the edge of our porch steps for all the world to see.
I know, I know, that was dumb. Colorado being the way it is, I should've known.
The weather turned.
My beautiful geraniums choked, gasped, turned brown. And died.
I promised myself I'd go down to the local nursery and buy new ones.
But yesterday, as I stepped out onto our front porch on my way to get the mail, something little and green caught my eye.
By golly, a sprig of life had sprouted from one of my potted geraniums.
I ran for my pruning scissors.
Cut off the old, dead stuff.
Watered.
Fed.
Cleaned the debris away.
Sure enough, new life.
Pristine.
Green, moist life swelling from the old stalks.
That plant is hardy.
Sometimes a hard and icy spell threatens to freeze the life out of us.
But if the life within is hardy, well-rooted, nurtured by good soil,
we will recover and grow beautiful again.
Perhaps more beautiful.
My geranium plant probably wouldn't have survived its cold snap had I not carefully tended and nurtured it throughout the winter.
Just so, as believers, we need the constant nourishment and training of God's Word so that when hard times come, we'll be able to withstand the pressure.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
He will be like a tree, planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of strife, and never fails to bear fruit." (Jer. 17: 7,8 NIV Bible)
I love this analogy. My Mom is a huge fan of geraniums. I remember her nursing them throughout the winter and being rewarded with gorgeous blooms.
ReplyDeleteWe don't always see immediate results to the long months of nurturing, but they do come.
Thanks, Susan. My mother also loved geraniums, but living in sunny California, she never learned about guarding and nurturing plants through the long cold winter. I'm glad I've experienced Colorado winters; their are a lot of analogies to be gained from cold and snow!
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