This past autumn, I was dealing with an unexpected family emergency when the first frost hit. My beautiful outside plants that I had very lovingly and carefully cared for became victimized, carefully and as quickly as I could I brought one particular plant in that I thought perhaps I could save, but the next day the plant looked unsalvageable, completely withered. I sighed and became distracted back to the emergent situation I had been dealing with, the plant quickly forgotten, and my intention of disposing it placed low in my priorities of tasks to tend.
One emergency situation occurred after another and three months passed before I was able to focus my attention back on that plant I had brought in months ago. I sighed as I walked over to it, thinking how carefully and attentive I had been taking care of what had been a small plant that had grown into a huge beautiful plant of four years.
“I suppose I should prune you out of the soil so this spring I can reuse the pot and the soil with something new…” I spoke my thoughts out loud.
Pulling up my kitchen trash can I began to use my fingers to pull out the dead leaves and vines. The plant was pretty thick with dead vines, but to my surprise tucked deep beneath the thick shelter of dead leaves was one small green shoot. I paused, raising an eyebrow in surprise and leaned closer to examine it. Yes indeed, there it was, the size of my pointer finger determining to live one green shoot remaining from the plant. I gasped in surprise. My task became more of a “search and rescue” task and in surprise I whispered to it.
“I wonder if I carefully disengage you from the rest, along with your roots – if I can keep you alive…”
Looking around my kitchen/dining room I spotted in our recycling bin and empty soda bottle, quickly I filled it with water and gingerly placed the one tiny sprout, roots first into the water, I then placed it on my dining room bay window in hopes that it would indeed survive.
Caught up with the business of life, I did not think again about the little sprout until last week. Walking over to the bottle I had placed on the window sill, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact the little sprout had grown taller and now boasted a beautiful single green leaf.
“And what have you learned from this?” Holy Spirit whispered into my mind.
Gazing at the determined little sprout, I smiled. This plant with God’s help will grow into a beautiful new plant, and every day that I see it I will remember what Holy Spirit has taught me.
“That things aren’t always as they appear, when things look to be at their very worst to continue to have faith and trust in God, because You, Holy Spirit could very well be formulating something deep below the surface level.”
Our perception of a situation is not necessarily God’s perception, nor are things sometimes as they appear to us. God is greater than ANY circumstance.
We just have to look to Him for direction and guidance and with faith trust Him.
“Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart, lean NOT to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 5-6)
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