Seed Planter or Weed Planter?

Have you ever looked at a garden after a good rain? Have you noticed how quickly the weeds grow? You could have worked really hard at pulling all the weeds out the week before only to see them return after the rain. You know you'll have to pull them out again or they will choke out the plants you want to keep. Gardens require a lot of maintenance to keep them thriving.

Life is a lot like that. We are all gardeners and sowers. When we sow good seeds in others' lives, their "gardens" blossom and grow. When we sow "weeds" in their lives, they grow, too.

Isn't it strange how fast a weed can grow, but how long it takes for a seed to sprout and, then, bloom? Seeds need time to grow and bloom. They need TLC from the sower. They need sunlight. Sometimes, they need fertilizing. A gardener invests in the seeds he has planted. Weeds seem to spring up without any help at all and don't really need much to survive.

Every day, we have an opportunity to sow "good seeds" or "weeds." We can choose to plant "good seeds" in others' lives by an encouraging word, a smile, a hug, or meeting a need. The "good seeds" that we have planted will grow and blossom in that person.

If we are "planting weeds" with discouraging words, unnecessary criticism, and negativity, we will see the "harvest" of what we have planted. It is difficult for someone to "bloom" when all they hear is negativity.

What kind of gardener do you want to be? Do you want to be a "seed planter" or a "weed planter?"

Plant some good seeds today, nurture those seeds, invest your time, and watch them bloom!