Seed Planting

When we think about seeds, most of us picture the small, dry husks that get tucked into the soil in spring. Some sprout within days, eager to rise toward the sun. Others lie quietly under the earth, unseen, seemingly lifeless, for months, years, even decades (or longer) before their moment comes.

I was reminded of this truth in a conversation with friends recently. We weren’t speaking about gardening, but about the quiet influence we have on those we love, especially our children and grandchildren.

For those whose sons or daughters do not share our faith, it can be easy to grow discouraged. We wonder if our words, our prayers, our example make any difference at all.

But seeds, whether in the garden or in the soul, do not all grow on our timetable. Some germinate quickly. An encouraging word or a gentle reminder of God’s love can take root immediately. Other seeds remain buried, hidden from sight. Yet beneath the surface, something is happening. Conditions change, hearts soften, and what once seemed dormant may one day push upward, reaching toward the heavens.

Botanists tell us that certain seeds can remain in the soil for years before sprouting. Some even require fire or flood to awaken them. What a picture of hope this is for parents! What looks like delay is not necessarily death. God knows the timing, and He alone brings life.

Some seeds are eager to grow. For example, a sunflower or bean seed, given the right soil and moisture, will break open within days. But others are in no hurry.

Take the lotus seed, for instance. Scientists have discovered lotus seeds that remained buried in dry lake beds for over a thousand years, only to germinate when given water. Imagine: a seed carried through centuries, biding its time until the exact right conditions arrived.

Or think of the desert wildflowers in places such as Death Valley. Their seeds scatter across the sand and then lie dormant through scorching heat and drought. They may wait five, ten, or even more years until just the right rainfall comes. And when it does, the desert floor bursts into color.

Another example comes from certain pine trees, such as the lodgepole pine. Their cones are sealed shut with resin, and only the heat of a wildfire can crack them open to release the seeds inside. What looks like destruction is actually the very condition needed to awaken new life.

These are not accidents of nature; they are reminders in creation itself!

These seeds tell us that dormancy does not equal death. Waiting is not wasted time. Hidden within those seeds is everything needed for life, just waiting for the right season.

This is such a hopeful picture when we think about the seeds we plant in the hearts of our children. Some truths may spring up quickly. Others may lie buried for years, waiting through seasons of doubt, distance, or struggle. And sometimes it takes the “wildfire” of hardship before a heart opens to the seeds that were sown long ago.

So we keep planting. We plant through conversations, through forgiveness, through consistent love. We plant through our prayers. And we trust that though we may not see growth right away, or perhaps not for many years, or even in our lifetime, the seed is there!

Our role is not to force the sprout from the soil, but to faithfully scatter the seeds, water them with patience, and believe that in the right season, life will appear.

Do not give up. As long as there is breath, there is hope.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 ESV