Lesson's from Emalee's Plant

My 4 year old daughter, Emalee, brought a Styrofoam cup home from church a few weeks ago.  It was filled with dirt and she had planted a seed of some sort in it.  We placed the cup in the window sill above the kitchen sink.  We've watered it and have watched it for several days.  It finally sprouted!  She's so excited to see that her plant is growing.  It's been growing rapidly for days.  It's a single shoot and about 6 inches tall.  Honestly, I'm unsure of what kind of plant it is!

While I was washing dishes today I was looking at Emalee's little plant.  It was bending toward the window in an effort to catch some sunlight.  I decided to experiment with the plant and found that no matter what way I would turn the cup the plant would eventually find the sun again and eventually bend in its direction.  I always found this to be amazing when I was a kid!

The Lord began to speak to me.  He showed me that I am very much like that plant.  The following is what He showed me:

1.  I must be planted.

I have a plaque in my kitchen with the following Scripture:


Joshua 24:15
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Many years ago during my walk with the Lord I came to a cross roads of sorts.  On one particular day He made it clear to me that I must choose Him or choose the world.  Just as Emalee's plant has now taken root, I made a decision to take root.  I planted my feet firmly and decided to trust in the Lord with all my heart and follow His ways.  

Over the years life has thrown its arrows at me.  I've had some leaves and branches knocked off, but my feet have never wavered as the roots of faith in my Lord have grown deeper and deeper.  

2.  I must be watered.

Just as we've been watering Emalee's plant to make it grow, my soul must be watered.  It's a daily watering of God's Holy Word to keep me growing in the knowledge of His Truth.  There have been times in my Christian walk where I have not been in God's Word on a consistent basis.  I've noticed that during these times I'm weaker and not as strong as I could be.  My prayer is that of the Psalmist....

 Psalm 42:1 

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."

Interestingly enough, the above Scripture verse was my very first vocal solo that I nervously sang in front of my church congregation at the age of sixteen.  I had no idea then how meaningful those words would be as I grew into adulthood. 

3.  I must be in the Light

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”


When I am in the darkness I cannot grow.  A plant needs a healthy dose of sunlight, just as my soul needs the light of the Son...Jesus...in order for me to grow.  I'm thankful that even in the days that I turned from the Lord and strayed toward the darkness (like me turning Emalee's cup around) He patiently waited for me to lean toward Him again.  It is in the Light of Jesus that I can truly have Life!



I hope that this has encouraged you today.

~Heather