Plants in a Pot

 A friend gave me seeds.

I planted them, watered them a time or three, then neglected them.

My sister watered them for me until a green sprout was visible. After that, it was easier for me to remember to nourish the plant because I could see the fruits from planting. We may wait for our successes to come to fruition before we make it a priority to nourish it. Sometimes we need help to nourish our success from others who pour Living Water on us.

Soon, the plant grew taller, but its leaves looked wilted and didn’t look like they were opening up as much as they should. A few days later, I noticed the plant was root bound. I moved it into a bigger pot. Very quickly, the plant began to thrive. The leaves opened up and weren’t wilted. Sometimes we put ourselves into pots that we think are “good enough.” We are happy to live our cramped lives because we are comfortable in our tiny little pot.

But often these dreams for ourselves are much too small. God knows that a bigger pot will be better for us to thrive in – but getting us to the bigger pot means we must be transported, which is traumatizing. We have made our home in this pot we have known for so long. Maybe it has a pretty design on the outside or has the perfect drainage holes at the bottom. You spent so much time making the pot cozy that you don’t want to go.

But you know you must.

So you let yourself move to this unfamiliar soil in a new place. It takes a little bit for us to adjust, but through Christ we are much more resilient than we often want to believe. It is only after we are in a new, healthier environment that we begin to see the purpose for moving and we begin to thrive. There’s more space here. You’re growing taller and the air is fresher up here. You start to like the new design on the outside of your pot and you don’t even know if there’s drainage holes in the bottom because you have so much soil to dig your roots into. You can get used to this.

This isn’t the end of the story for the plant.

The plant needs to be tended to on a regular basis. I left this plant out in too much sunlight and it became sick again. It very quickly went from a very beautiful and healthy plant to looking weak and tiny. My neglect of the plant caused it to become weak.

The same is true for our spiritual lives; we must constantly nourish our souls with God’s Word so that we remain spiritually healthy. Too much focus on making our pot the perfect home or not absorbing water or not basking in the sun can mean sickness for the plants of our souls. Soon we don’t see fruit, only what looks like an eternal winter. Soon we don’t care about the plant because we figure that we’re okay with one less plant to worry about or to neglect.

But then you realize your roots were there the whole time. They may be weakened, but they are holding you in place through the bitter winds of cold winter nights. Slowly, the wind eases up each day. The sun seems a little warmer. You sense hope impending on the horizon.

Spring is coming.