~Grow~
~Five Minute Friday~
…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:17b~18 ~NLT
She approached our table, wrinkled and bent, wrapped warm in her thick knitted sweater, selling her wares. Galax leaves bundled, tied with string of yarn. I wanted them, a piece of home to take home. She assured me they would live long if I kept the water fresh.
We wandered among the wares of an antique shop in search of a mason jar to place them in. Carried them three hours south. I untied the yarn, filled the jar with water, putting them in one by one. Tending them.
Roots have begun to grow. I know better than to plant them here. Scorching summers, relentless sun, red soil. Peaches, strawberries, cantaloupes, loblolly pines grow and thrive. My leaves would wither and die. I’ll watch the roots grow and tangle and fill their space in the jar.
My one word, cultivate, comes to mind. Cultivate, synonym for grow, along with flourish, gain, multiply, and my favorite, luxuriate.
There’s a sermon here (smile), perhaps a bigger lesson. Given the proper soil, tending, pruning, watering, feeding, growth will come. When we grow, we multiply. Make disciples. Share hearts and love and life.
We grow when deeply rooted in love, firmly planted in His Word. Thrive on Living Water, cultivated soil.
We hurt when pruning is done. Dead branches fall, leaves pulled, bleeding to the ground all we are wanton for, yet stunting our growth.
Cultivating the soil of our hearts, feeding our souls with God breathed words, drinking in Living water, we grow. We flourish. We luxuriate.
For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
Job 29:19 ~NLT
Gifts of Grace
Tammy Mashburn
“We grow when deeply rooted in love, firmly planted in His Word. Thrive on Living Water, cultivated soil.” – I love this so much! Thank you for sharing. 🙂 (FMF)
Sarah
http://www.sarahefrazer.com
Thank you, Sarah! I am heading over to FMF in a bit and catch up on my reading!
XO
Tammy
There is a sermon there, for sure! <3 Loved this, Tammy! So beautiful!
Karrilee, it may find it’s way into my Sunday School class! 🙂
XO
Tammy
Yes! THIS: “Cultivating the soil of our hearts, feeding our souls with God breathed words, drinking in Living water, we grow. We flourish. We luxuriate.” There is indeed a sermon here indeed. Beautiful beautiful post!
Thank you Tara!
XO
Tammy
I love this for sure, but I am curious, Galax leaves? xo
Native to my hometown, Galax, VA. The town was named after them. Heart shaped leaves, waxy green, and large.
XO
Tammy
Ah, ‘when we grow we multiply.’ How often I forget this. I focus on my growth and forget that others grow along with me. I need to recognize, encourage and participate in their growth, too.
Wonderful thoughts Anita! It’s not only about
Our growth but the growth of others as well! Thank you Anita for sharing!
XO
Tammy
This was a great story about our Leaves. They are beautiful and very green and strong.
Some ladies here use them in weddings. Some in Formal Dinners. They are talked
about in conversations.This Lady sells a bunch for $ 5.00 EACH. She takes such care
of them. Tells you how to grow them. She walks to places to sell. Has no vehicle. Most
of us natives try to buy from her to help her out.
Such a beautiful picture of the growth God inspires in us. He knows where to best plant us to to grow the best. Thanks for this important lesson.