A Time to Plant

It’s impossible, it seems, to ignore Spring’s siren call to plant new seeds and cultivate new growth—even when you have a black thumb.

One side of our extended family enjoys playing “Dirty Santa” every year to exchange gifts. This past Christmas, our youngest was the proud recipient of her very own greenhouse. She could not wait to get her greenhouse set up, plant seeds, and begin growing all the food and flowers.

At the first hint of spring, she started begging to grow plants.

Suddenly, the race was on to get seeds started and—as with most things in our family—everyone had a role to play.

Our oldest assembled the long-awaited greenhouse.

Dad led an expedition to the store to get all the necessary supplies: seed starter trays, garden soil, and, of course, seed packets.

With a little help, she planted her prize seeds: sweet corn—and Dad planted Thai peppers and jalapeños.

Before we knew it, glimpses of green could be seen poking up through the soil.

It was time for these little guys to be moved into the greenhouse where we hoped they would flourish and produce.

Within days, they had grown from tiny shoots to thriving baby plants…

…and a couple of weeks after that, they were ready to be transplanted into the raised garden bed…

…and a few more seeds were sown—this time, carrots.

I had big plans myself this spring to try my hand at gardening once again. I intended to keep it simple and focus on one plant: strawberries. But, honestly, my window of opportunity never came. Instead, I’m watching from the sidelines as my daughter and husband nurture their own little plants.

As I sit at the computer, wrapped in the still darkness of early morning, the only sound being the click-clacking of keys, I can’t help but wonder: perhaps I am planting seeds—just not the ones I had envisioned.

Now to see which ones will bear fruit—because, as Paul reminded the Corinthians, we may plant and we may water, but God gives the growth.

Next up: On the Road Again.