When I was little, I’d listen to the parable of the Sower and the Seed, it was an easy one to picture in my mind. I could see the farmer, planting seeds, scattering them on the ground. Then I could see the birds coming to peck at the ground, the farmer watering , and the sun shining. I imagine a child trampling the ground as they go into the garden to fetch a stray ball, or perhaps some deer or rabbits come by for a little treat.

As a child, I did’t really know enough about gardening to know you there was a lot you had to put into it. I didn’t understand that even before you plant, you need to consider the soil and the climate and the time of year and how much sun it will get, etc. Then once you’ve considered all of this, you can decide what to plant. Further, once all of this was contemplated, I had no knowledge of the amount of work you’d have to put in just to keep the conditions as close to optimal as you could in order to hopefully have a bountiful harvest!

It wan’t until I was older when I learned about the work involved in growing anything!

I found particular comfort in this scripture as an adult. At a retreat day for teachers, I attended a workshop where we took the parable of the Sower and the Seed and had to act it out. I was in a group with two or three other women and I was the seed. The others knocked into me and choked me, imitating all of the negative things that came upon the seed as it (I) tried to grow.

After the workshop, my perspective shifted. I came to realize, I am that seed and the obstacles the seed in the parable has to overcome, so do I. I saw examples in my life where others had tried to burn me by using unkind words or putting me down. I’d experienced being choked out by groups of people who didn’t include me because I did’t fit in with their way of thinking. I was able to relate to being trampled on too when I’d been emotionally knocked down.

Though I came out knowing is that I was still standing here today because I had good soil and deep roots. My good soil is a faithful family who introduced me to God and showed me an example of discipleship. And my deep roots have grown over time as I’ve come to know God more intimately, spent time in prayer and on retreat; plus keeping a steady diet of scripture in my life!