Dear Tom
Dear Tom,
Both kids brought home these seeds inside a plastic cup from church one Sunday in late January/early February.
It was a fun idea, and I will be honest, I can't remember the Bible story that they had to go along with it. I am sure it was important and meaningful. All I know is I was desperately trying to remember to keep them alive. Here were two small seeds and I knew I had to keep them watered and with plenty of sun.
On a few occasions after the stems and leaves sprouted I would find them wilted and sagging and I would know that I had not done my job. I had failed them again. A little water would always bring them bouncing back to life, and I would carefully monitor them for the next week or so before life would keep me distracted and I would loose focus on my little growing sprouts.
I find too many times in my daily life that I loose focus on what matters most. My little sprouts are growing so quickly, and I am blessed to watch them bloom, but much like the marigolds in the window--they are in my sight all day long, but I often forget to tend to them in the way they need to be tended.
Of course I feed them, and I clothe and bathe them and keep them clean. But, I can also get wrapped up in the laundry, or what needs to be cleaned, vacuumed, straightened, or in a project I want to do for myself or them.
So many good and valuable moments pass me by. Unfortunately, unlike the flowers, I live in the guilt of missed opportunities instead of watering them again and finding my focus once more.
We are promised a new day and a new opportunity with each sunrise, and yet too often I can't see the sunrise for the rain of yesterday.
Thankfully, like the plants, I don't throw out the kids, and they don't throw me away either. Somewhere in the puddle of guilt I find the way back and try again to tend to my seedlings.
I don't know how you do it with a smile day after day. Your beautiful wife tended your big and strong flower everyday and she never seemed to lose focus. And, while I am sure there were times in her life when she did, I know that she wouldn't have waited a second for a new opportunity to tend to her daughter.
You now have a whole room full of spouting Christians and your task must be so daunting. I have always admired your seemingly endless supply of love and giving. I have no doubt that you water and sun your seeds weekly, and they will grow and grow in God' love. Just as I know that no matter how many times my sprouts wilt, the rain and sun will come again, my focus will return and I will revel in the opportunity to watch them grow.
God likes to find ways to make me see the answers I most often need.
Today, Gracie's flower opened up and raised its petals to the heaven above. Just in time for spring.
Love,
Barbara
Both kids brought home these seeds inside a plastic cup from church one Sunday in late January/early February.
It was a fun idea, and I will be honest, I can't remember the Bible story that they had to go along with it. I am sure it was important and meaningful. All I know is I was desperately trying to remember to keep them alive. Here were two small seeds and I knew I had to keep them watered and with plenty of sun.
On a few occasions after the stems and leaves sprouted I would find them wilted and sagging and I would know that I had not done my job. I had failed them again. A little water would always bring them bouncing back to life, and I would carefully monitor them for the next week or so before life would keep me distracted and I would loose focus on my little growing sprouts.
I find too many times in my daily life that I loose focus on what matters most. My little sprouts are growing so quickly, and I am blessed to watch them bloom, but much like the marigolds in the window--they are in my sight all day long, but I often forget to tend to them in the way they need to be tended.Of course I feed them, and I clothe and bathe them and keep them clean. But, I can also get wrapped up in the laundry, or what needs to be cleaned, vacuumed, straightened, or in a project I want to do for myself or them.
So many good and valuable moments pass me by. Unfortunately, unlike the flowers, I live in the guilt of missed opportunities instead of watering them again and finding my focus once more.
We are promised a new day and a new opportunity with each sunrise, and yet too often I can't see the sunrise for the rain of yesterday.
Thankfully, like the plants, I don't throw out the kids, and they don't throw me away either. Somewhere in the puddle of guilt I find the way back and try again to tend to my seedlings.
I don't know how you do it with a smile day after day. Your beautiful wife tended your big and strong flower everyday and she never seemed to lose focus. And, while I am sure there were times in her life when she did, I know that she wouldn't have waited a second for a new opportunity to tend to her daughter.
You now have a whole room full of spouting Christians and your task must be so daunting. I have always admired your seemingly endless supply of love and giving. I have no doubt that you water and sun your seeds weekly, and they will grow and grow in God' love. Just as I know that no matter how many times my sprouts wilt, the rain and sun will come again, my focus will return and I will revel in the opportunity to watch them grow.
God likes to find ways to make me see the answers I most often need.
Today, Gracie's flower opened up and raised its petals to the heaven above. Just in time for spring.
Love,
Barbara
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