With it being the last couple of days of July, I thought it would be fun to share with you how my Advent Seed Calendar is doing. Christmas in July!
Today’s highlight is the sunflowers!
In the last blog post, I shared how the little Zinnia sprouts needed some “fork support” to help them not droop and flop over, as they were trying to grow strong enough to stand up straight on their own.
The sunflowers likewise needed a little “fork support” as well.
As I watched the little sunflower sprouts stretching and growing, held up with their “fork support” I couldn’t help but think what a great picture of parenting this is. Our kids (especially when they are younger) need us to come alongside them as “fork support” to help them not be pulled down by the heaviness of the “rain” in their life. Our kids need our “fork support” to help them as they are trying to grow strong enough to be able to stand up straight on their own.
When the little sunflower seedlings graduated to growing in the garden, I planted their “fork support” right there alongside them. The garden was a big scary place for the little sunflower seedlings to grow. A fierce battle with the slugs had been going on all spring! Would the little sunflower seedlings do ok??
As you can see, the sunflowers have done just fine. In fact, their “fork support” looks rather comical now, alongside the big tall strong sunflower stalk.
I just have to say – this is exactly what parenting is like!
As parents we support and help our kids (as “fork support”) … but God has a great call on our children’s lives.
And so they grow, with God’s help, “stretching for the sky” and growing into who God has called them to be, for the great purpose God has for their life. It’s so beautiful!
Meanwhile, we (as “fork support”) feel rather like this little white fork here below. We’re no longer the strong thing we used to be. We are feeling the “wear and tear” of life.
But here we stand … still a faithful “fork support” for our kids.
Our kids know our “fork support” is standing there right alongside them … even though we might look a little worse for the wear. And as is obvious, our kids no longer need our “fork support” in the same context it looked like when they were little.
But our kids will always need us to be there for them … with our love faithfully standing right there beside them (as “fork support”)! So that they can grow tall and beautiful … continuing to become who God wants them to be … and blooming beautifully for Jesus!
Thank you God for such a beautiful life-lesson from my Christmas Advent Seed Calendar sunflowers!
Thank you God for the gift of sunflowers!
Thank you God for Christmas in July!
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” – Deuteronomy 7:9
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” – Hebrews 13:5
