The Good Sower
Illustration
Stories
Wendy looked at the garden she had prepared near the front door and imagined how much space all of the flowers would need. She made a quick mark in the soil for each of the plants, changed her mind a few times, and then when she was satisfied went into the garage to get the seedlings.
“Wow, those are nice,” George said from his mailbox next door. “Did you get them from the nursery which opened up near the grocery store?”
“No,” Wendy smiled. “I grew these all from seeds a few months ago. I would have put them out sooner, but we had that late frost and wanted to be sure that they would be okay.”
“The seasons are certainly different than they were when I was growing up.” George shook his head. “I don’t think I ever remember a frost so late in the spring.”
“The news called it a ‘once in a lifetime occurrence’.” Wendy shrugged. “Hopefully we’ll have a good growing season and no frost well into the fall.”
“I know the news called it a ‘once in a lifetime event’ but honestly, I’ve seen too many in my life to assume it’ll never happen again.” George chuckled. “Those are great flowers though. How many seeds did you plant?”
“I have twenty plants ready to bloom but I planted twenty-five seeds.” Wendy set down the trays next to the flower bed. “Come over and have a seat for a moment.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to slow you down.’
Wendy laughed. “I’m always happy to take a break.”
“Well, I suppose I could chat for a few minutes.” George came over and sat down. “You did a great job. The plants look like they are off to a good start.”
“Thanks, I was lucky.” Wendy tilted her head. “Of course, when you have good soil, good lighting, and water them properly then seeds do better than when you don’t.”
“That’s for certain.” George looked back toward his yard. “I remember having to plant twice the number of seeds to get a decent crop when I used to plant a vegetable garden.”
“That many?”
“Sure. You lose some to the birds, some wouldn’t develop deep roots, and if you caught a dry patch some would wither and die even if you tried to water them.” George sighed. “Sometimes it was a struggle to get the plants to grow.”
“You always had a great harvest though and were always generous to your neighbors.”
“There are only so many carrots and tomatoes a person can eat.” George chuckled. “Anne used to say that she was always thankful for the people who would help us with them.”
Wendy tapped her chin with her finger. “You know that reminds me of something I was thinking about from church.”
“Really?” George frowned. “You were thinking of carrots and tomatoes in church?”
Wendy laughed. “No, the pastor was talking about the parable of the sower and the seeds.”
“Oh. I always liked that parable of Jesus.”
“I figured it might be given your love of gardening.” Wendy smiled. “When you were speaking about all the troubles of getting seeds to grow, it made me think of that story.”
“Yeah, that part is relatable to anyone who has ever gardened, isn’t it?”
“Very much so. But you know something? I only planted seeds where I knew they would grow.” Wendy paused for a moment. “I wonder why God puts seeds where there is a possibility that they won’t flourish.”
“Hmm, I never thought about that but you’re right. In the parable, the sower puts seeds in places where they aren’t necessarily going to grow. That doesn’t make sense for a gardener because no one wastes seeds,” George said. “Of course, the parable isn’t about growing plants, is it?”
“No, it is about God’s Word for us.”
“So let me ask you a question.” George narrowed his eyes. “How long do you think these flowers of yours will grow?”
“Well given that they are annuals they’ll last until the frost arrives in the fall unless I dig them up and take then in,” Wendy said. “They’ll be beautiful until then though.”
“I think maybe that is the point. The sower knows the seeds might not last, but they are going to grow for a time in those other places.” George shrugged. “I guess that is better than never growing at all and who knows I’ve seen plants thrive where you least expect them.”
“So, you’re saying that God sows the word just because it might grow? God is willing to risk for us just because we might respond and answer even if might only be for a short time or not as well as we might in other conditions?” Wendy smiled. “That means that God is willing to do anything and everything to give us the opportunity and chance to know and experience God’s love and grace.”
“Me too.” George stared at her for a moment. “You know what? I really like that parable now!”
*****************************************
StoryShare, July 16, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“Wow, those are nice,” George said from his mailbox next door. “Did you get them from the nursery which opened up near the grocery store?”
“No,” Wendy smiled. “I grew these all from seeds a few months ago. I would have put them out sooner, but we had that late frost and wanted to be sure that they would be okay.”
“The seasons are certainly different than they were when I was growing up.” George shook his head. “I don’t think I ever remember a frost so late in the spring.”
“The news called it a ‘once in a lifetime occurrence’.” Wendy shrugged. “Hopefully we’ll have a good growing season and no frost well into the fall.”
“I know the news called it a ‘once in a lifetime event’ but honestly, I’ve seen too many in my life to assume it’ll never happen again.” George chuckled. “Those are great flowers though. How many seeds did you plant?”
“I have twenty plants ready to bloom but I planted twenty-five seeds.” Wendy set down the trays next to the flower bed. “Come over and have a seat for a moment.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to slow you down.’
Wendy laughed. “I’m always happy to take a break.”
“Well, I suppose I could chat for a few minutes.” George came over and sat down. “You did a great job. The plants look like they are off to a good start.”
“Thanks, I was lucky.” Wendy tilted her head. “Of course, when you have good soil, good lighting, and water them properly then seeds do better than when you don’t.”
“That’s for certain.” George looked back toward his yard. “I remember having to plant twice the number of seeds to get a decent crop when I used to plant a vegetable garden.”
“That many?”
“Sure. You lose some to the birds, some wouldn’t develop deep roots, and if you caught a dry patch some would wither and die even if you tried to water them.” George sighed. “Sometimes it was a struggle to get the plants to grow.”
“You always had a great harvest though and were always generous to your neighbors.”
“There are only so many carrots and tomatoes a person can eat.” George chuckled. “Anne used to say that she was always thankful for the people who would help us with them.”
Wendy tapped her chin with her finger. “You know that reminds me of something I was thinking about from church.”
“Really?” George frowned. “You were thinking of carrots and tomatoes in church?”
Wendy laughed. “No, the pastor was talking about the parable of the sower and the seeds.”
“Oh. I always liked that parable of Jesus.”
“I figured it might be given your love of gardening.” Wendy smiled. “When you were speaking about all the troubles of getting seeds to grow, it made me think of that story.”
“Yeah, that part is relatable to anyone who has ever gardened, isn’t it?”
“Very much so. But you know something? I only planted seeds where I knew they would grow.” Wendy paused for a moment. “I wonder why God puts seeds where there is a possibility that they won’t flourish.”
“Hmm, I never thought about that but you’re right. In the parable, the sower puts seeds in places where they aren’t necessarily going to grow. That doesn’t make sense for a gardener because no one wastes seeds,” George said. “Of course, the parable isn’t about growing plants, is it?”
“No, it is about God’s Word for us.”
“So let me ask you a question.” George narrowed his eyes. “How long do you think these flowers of yours will grow?”
“Well given that they are annuals they’ll last until the frost arrives in the fall unless I dig them up and take then in,” Wendy said. “They’ll be beautiful until then though.”
“I think maybe that is the point. The sower knows the seeds might not last, but they are going to grow for a time in those other places.” George shrugged. “I guess that is better than never growing at all and who knows I’ve seen plants thrive where you least expect them.”
“So, you’re saying that God sows the word just because it might grow? God is willing to risk for us just because we might respond and answer even if might only be for a short time or not as well as we might in other conditions?” Wendy smiled. “That means that God is willing to do anything and everything to give us the opportunity and chance to know and experience God’s love and grace.”
“Me too.” George stared at her for a moment. “You know what? I really like that parable now!”
*****************************************
StoryShare, July 16, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
