CHILDREN PLANTING SEEDS OF LOVE

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Growing up in the country, my family always planted a large garden. We would go the store and buy bags of seeds. We would prepare the soil by using a tiller that softens hard soil by breaking it apart. We made straight rows two or three feet apart. Then, we dug small holes in the dirt and put one, two or three seeds into the hole along with some fertilizer, and covered the seeds with some dirt. We then watered the seeds.

Over the next few weeks, we watered the garden if God did not provide sufficient rain. Eventually the seeds started to sprout. This was one of my favorite times during the summer because we knew that our seeds were going to turn into corn stalks, beans bushes, tomato plants or cucumber vines. We looked forward to the harvest and enjoying the vegetables we had planted.

Jesus used the image of a farmer planting seeds and told his listeners that although not all the seeds turned out well, some seeds fell on good soil and produced a lot of grain or corn or beans or tomatoes or cucumbers or whatever the farmer planted.

He also said that the farmer scattered the seed. This meant that God showered His love and grace on all people, and although some people do not want God’s love and grace, you do. God planted in your mind and heart His desire for you to grow into a Christian who loves and forgives.

I hope that like the seed that fell onto good soil, you show a lot of love and forgiveness to many, many people. Won’t you start today by thanking God for His love and grace, and showing love and forgiveness to your family and friends today?

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless all children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.