Grow Where You're Planted

Colossians 2:7 – Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. (AMP)

As I did not inherit a green thumb from my parents or have any particular interest in gardening, it did not occur to me that there was a "growing season" for flowers and plants. We were living in Goose Bay, Labrador, in an apartment on a Canadian Air Force base, and the living room had two long, wide windows which afforded a grand view of the snow-covered terrain. It was November when I decided I really needed some colour. For some mysterious reason, I had taken packets of pansy and marigold seeds to my new location. In the broom closet, I discovered two deep, narrow metal trays which just fitted along the windowsills. I filled the trays with soil. (To this day, I do not remember where I obtained this dirt. I can only assume that I had dug beneath the snow and scratched out some soil.) With the bright sunshine, the warmth of the central heating, and watering, they began to flourish in their unusual environment — much to the interest of people who walked the path close to the building, as one could hear the murmuring of conversation while they lingered to look at the strange sight.

Paul urges us as Christians to put our roots firmly and deeply into Christ. As with plants, I believe that we also have "growing seasons". It is during those times that our faith seems to increase, and we bound forward in our Christian experience. We may not have the all-inspiring conditions, but regardless, we may display our spiritual beauty in all facets of our everyday living.

As time builds upon memories, may we only retain the memory of the "growing", and not the hurts and difficulties of those days. Indeed, as I cannot really remember the task of obtaining the soil, I recall only the beauty of the pansies and marigolds, which remains with me to this day.

Prayer: Our gracious heavenly Father, in all the conditions in which we may be found this day, help us to radiate a beauty of spirit and express a joy which is not conditioned by circumstances, rooted in the knowledge that You do all things well. We offer this petition in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus. Amen.