We have all heard dozens of different analogies using the seed as a metaphor for different situations in our Christian faith. Some plant the seed, some water the seed, but only God brings the harvest. Sow a seed and watch it grow. Unless a seed be planted into the ground and die…I have heard all of these before and more, but the other day I was driving and it started to make more sense to me in a way I hadn’t pictured prior. When I eat an apple, I rarely stop and think of the process that it took to get that apple in my hand; of the many moving parts required to make the eating of my apple possible. When we look at an apple, we just see the fruit. We give credit to the actual fruit for the taste or crispness of it. We do not stop and thank the tree for hanging on to it for just the right amount of time. We do not send a card to the farmer for planting it. We do not offer a pat on the back for the person who picked it, washed it or shipped it. We simply eat and enjoy the apple, right? I’m sure even the apple itself doesn’t stop to send gratitude. Often we do the same with people. We see the “fruit” of someone’s life, the somewhat finished or completed work in a life we admire. We do not know the road they walked down to get where they are today, nor do we know how many people it took to bring them to the place they are today. We read their books, hear their sermons, watch their talent shine in a sporting event, or listen to their beautiful music. We see them as a single being. We don’t see them as a “grouping” or a “plethora” of many different seeds that were sown for years prior to our exposure to them. As I was driving last week, the Lord was bringing all of this to my mind. Before the seed could even be planted, someone had to purchase the land. Someone had to have a vision when they looked at that bare land of a beautiful orchard. Then someone had to till the ground, add soil, water, shade, and fertilizer. Someone had to kill the weeds, trim the branches and support the trees that were weak. Then that someone had to wait patiently for years before seeing any fruit. After fruit finally began to grow, someone had to get rid of the bad apples, spray something to kill the worms and accept that some were just going to be rotten. Then, one day, after much work, harvest time arrives. Now someone comes along and picks the beautiful fruit, bites into the tasty apples and goes on their way. And the cycle continues on and on without a moment to stop and look back on the one who began the entire thing. I guess God brought this to my attention to ensure I didn’t allow this to happen in my life. A lot of people, especially lately, have said to me “You’re an inspiration to many people”, “You’re an amazing woman”, “God is using you greatly” and other encouraging and genuine comments. But I want to say that I didn’t get to where I am today on my own. It took MANY wonderful and amazing people walking along side me, trimming my branches when needed, watering my soil when it was dry, killing the worms and providing shade when scorched. A lot of times those people get overlooked and forgotten, but not to me. Without the prayers, support and love from the dozens of faithful people in my life, I wouldn’t be who I am today or where I am and I want to be sure that is made known.
My grandmother is a faithful woman of God. She has stayed committed and true to Christ for over 60 years. She raised my beautiful mother and helped her find Christ. The Lord saved my father from the road of destruction and brought him to her. Together, they stayed the course, through hard times and lots of bumps along the way; they endured it all and made Christ available to me to receive. You see, I am a third generation of faithful Christ followers and prayer warriors. People that don’t quit when times get tough, but who stay steady through the storms. My path was bathed in prayer long before I took my first breaths. God knew what I would need behind me to make His purpose in my life some to pass, and I am forever grateful for the heritage that I came from. Although I am young, my life has taken many twists and turns and I have sailed through some intense storms in my young years. God has brought people along side of me all the while, paddling with me, praying for me and never quitting on me. The love and support of my wonderful sister; a woman who is faithful to the end, never gave up on me through my best and worst times, and who loves and believes in me more than almost anyone. I would never have made it without my supportive family and friends. It would take me page after page to list all the incredible people God has used to bless my life and bring me closer to Him. But you know who you are, my faithful friends who love me for who I am and have planted so many joyful seeds into my heart. Each and every person that played a part in my life will reap a part in all that God does through this next season of my life. Without the prayers, support and encouragement of each of those people I wouldn’t have made it and nor could I continue without it. When I get to heaven someday and God says to me, “Turn and look at your reward” and I see that sea of people that made it to heaven through my life, I won’t be standing there alone. Beside me will be each person who prayed those souls in, funded the trips that made the gospel available to them and kept me from falling off the path. Each person will have those souls on their account. For I am not some “one man show” or something special; I am just a girl with a willing heart to go and make Christ known. I don’t work solo, nor would I ever want my mind to even for a second think I am all that. I am nothing without Christ and the dozens of people who helped me get here. Thank you. I’m thankful for my Christian heritage, my faithful parents and family, my dearest friends. I couldn’t have done it and won’t be able to complete the work God started without you. Thank you for loving me when others didn’t, supporting me when my ideas seem crazy, telling me the truth when it hurts, holding me when I was broken, believing in me, standing next to me, praying for me and walking with me. I am so grateful and thankful for your roll in my life and I do not take it lightly.
Even though you won’t be with me physically over this next season, you will be in my spirit. And it is your prayers, love and support that will carry me from country to country, village to village and person to person. I want to recognize your place in my life and thank you for allowing me to share in yours. I truly feel like the luckiest girl alive because God gave me the very best people to share my life with and to pour into mine. I love you all and appreciate everything you have done. I am nothing without each of you. I will go to the nations and bring the love of God to them, I will give my heart and soul to His cause and I am able to do so because of you. He sees all you have done and whether you are acknowledged for it on this earth or not makes no difference, cause He keeps the record books and when your name is called on that day, every life will be on your tab. What a real and beautiful picture that paints.
