John 12: 24-25
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But, if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Earlier this spring I took lots of different seed…dead seed…and placed them in the ground. Those seeds are now growing into beautiful green plants that are blooming and Lord willing will begin to bear much fruit. That is such a mystery to me. Once we place the seed in the ground, it is gone from our view. Down inside the soil it lays…dark and alone. But, as long as the soil is good soil and it gets water and warmth it will not stay in that dark place long. It will push its way out of the ground…growing, turning green with life…bearing much more than one seed. Just weeks ago, my garden was just rows with markers showing where the seed had been planted. Now, the garden is full of life! Full of green…vegetable plants blooming and growing tall and strong. Getting ready to bear much fruit.
It has been almost 6 months since Rick left this earth for heaven. Six months…an eternity. It is so hard to explain the feelings of grief if you haven’t experienced it. One day holds promise of being a good day…until something triggers the tears. It is amazing to me how God has connected our minds and our hearts. What enters my brain first can cause such grief to my heart. A song…a word from someone…a picture…a holiday…a person…a Mustang…a special day…all coming into the thoughts first, then into the heart…then into the emotions. The journey of grief….a hard journey.
But, this journey causes me to stop often and think of Rick’s life and also mine. What impact did he have on others? Did his life change people for the better? How did his life and death serve God’s purposes? What am I doing with what God has placed in my life? Am I fulfilling what He has for me? Good questions for all of us, I think.
This past week I have been thinking of seeds that Rick sowed. His life being a single seed…one seed sowing the Word of God into others. The Seed of the Word…planted into so many lives. If there was one thing that Rick loved, it surely was the Word of God. For those that knew Rick personally, they know that he never compromised the Word. When It spoke, he spoke. He would not back down from the Word. And he did not keep it to himself. He was diligent to take the Seed of the Word and plant it into the soil of people’s lives. What they did with it once it was planted was their responsibility. And many have done wonderful things with it. There is Seed growing in Mozambique, Ukraine, Mexico, Poland, Afganistan, probably every state in the Union and mature Seed in heaven. Those that Rick taught the Word to, ministered to in the Name of Jesus, and loved and died to self for, have taken that same Seed of the Word, planted it into rich soil and now it is growing in others. The cycle continues. And will continue until Jesus comes.
When I look at my life…what kind of seed am I sowing? Am I sowing for myself…keeping my life, needs, wants and desires in the soil of self? Because if that is the case…it will bear nothing of any significance. Nothing that will last. Nothing eternal. I want my life to count for something that will last longer than I will. Once this life is done…we get no do-overs. I must learn to take that Seed and spread it in the soil of others lives. Because when I do…that Seed grows, matures, bears fruit and goes places that I cannot even imagine. That Seed does things in peoples lives that counts for something bigger than myself. It is a matter of life…and death.
A dead seed…a life that is dead of me…sold out completely to God. That dead seed of my life plants the Living Seed into good soil and it grows. It grows, bearing fruit. Then the seed from that fruit gets planted again into other good soil and so the process goes. One seed at a time…one life at a time. We never know where that seed will go and what kind of impact it will have in this world…or the one to come. Planting seed…one life at a time…what a beautiful garden we are growing!
Sending much love,
Debbie
This entry was written on June 16, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Debbie, you are making a difference. Your seed is also growing, but as you said, you can’t see it until it sprouts and bears fruit. I have given your blog to two people in my life that lost their husbands recently. One is a sweet person that Pete works with and needed some guidance and emotional help as she is trying to cope. Another is a friend I used to work with at the school administration building here in Largo. It was her daughter’s husband who was only 45 years old. He had a heart attack and died, and was buried the day before Easter, and now Lori is trying to cope and raise two very little girls alone. Your blog is so reassuring to people. No matter what you are going through God knew He needed you to help Him touch others. You are God’s seed as well and whether you know it or not, you are bearing fruit. I’m so very sorry that you are going through such grief, but like I said, you are making a difference and are growing fruit. You and Rick are in my thoughts and prayers daily – can you feel the prayers? With lots of love and hugs!!! Cathy
I like your writing on seeds. It is good to be spiritual, not everyday
living in the world kinda things. Your thoughts spark things in my thoughts. A man once said to me if a person is hungry, you can give them
an apple and they will be satisfied for awhile. If you show them how to
grow apple trees you will feed them for life!
God’s word, the perfect seed, is like the latter…we can help folks out of problems in life and they will be satisfied for awhile, but if we give them the more perfect help, the word of God, they will be satisfied for ETERNITY…cool
Love Dick and Sarah