Last spring when the weather started seeming more and more like springtime, my thoughts had turned to the beauty of springtime. The buds began to bloom on the trees, the small sprouts begin to raise from the soil in the gardens, and the flowers...the beautiful flowers not only in the flower beds, but those that grow alongside the roadways and pasture lands.
My thoughts turned to some old flower seeds leftover from the previous year. The seeds still in their package, kept in a cool place. But a part of me didn’t want to plant those seeds, in fear that they were "old" and may not produce as vibrant as going out and buying and planting just “new" seeds. Even though I had not opened the package, I had already pre-determined those old seeds’ ability to produce.
Then it dawned on me...shame on me. What if God had thought of me in all my sins as "old seeds?" Seeds that He planted in me at a younger age, yet I walked away from Him and "my package became dusty, and no longer new." By God’s wonderful grace and forgiveness, His choice was not to discard my package, but to use me for His flowerbed along with all the others who may be new to Christ.
It is not the age of the package, it is the good soil (the foundation); the nourishment (His Promises to Us and His Love); the watering (His Word and fellowship with others); and the sunshine (God’s Mercy and Grace for our mistakes.) These are the things like planted seeds, that make us grow.
Like all package seeds, sometimes some seeds grow strong and straight, while others may grow a little sideways but the roots are still in His Foundation. The Best Part...is being planted in God’s Garden. Knowing that He is looking down and watching us grow...making sure we get watered and sunshine..and sometimes even blowing gentle breezes (I call in the real world, God’s nudges) to remind us we need Him to flourish.
I’m so very glad that God pointed out to me, He loves all....He gives everyone the same opportunities to come to Him, even the ones who have been on the shelves and have become "dusty." With His Forgiveness, Mercy and Grace..we are all considered into Him "Useable" for His Garden.
(( hugs until next time))