The Spiritual Waiting Room
Plant
3 Measures
Kindness Fidelity Forgiveness
Good Ground For Hope
Grow
(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)
Scripture: Wisdom 12:19
You taught Your people through Your actions that those who strive for justice must be kind. You gave Your children good ground for hope and told them that You would allow repentance for their sins.
Reflection
I'm always looking for good recipes. It's so much fun when you find one that really works well, is fairly easy, and is a hit with everyone. It's a keeper!
In a similar way when you are planting some flowers and they look beautiful, you write it down and keep the name for future reference. You don't want to forget it!
When we do our planting, there are three measures we can look to for success. Are the words and actions that I plant around me every day done with kindness? If I am just thinking of myself and what I can gain, inevitably my planting will turn people off and discourage them. People I encounter will want to quickly dispose of those plants. No one needs more aggravation and negativity!
The second measure that is helpful to plant is fidelity. When I am committed in my relationships and dependable, people I encounter can place their trust and confidence in me. They can count on my being there for them. Especially when they call at stressful times, they know that I will be at their side as soon as I can.
The third measure to plant in this recipe for following the example of Jesus is forgiveness. In many ways this can be the most difficult ingredient to add. There are always people who have hurt us deeply that we find difficult to forgive.
Our forgiveness can transform the hard ground of bitterness into the receptive soil of new life. We can leave behind the misunderstanding and hard feelings of insult and disappointment. We begin anew.
As we plant with our three measures of kindness, fidelity, and forgiveness, we are walking with Jesus. We are transforming difficult situations and past hurts into the good ground that is so essential for new life to take root. We have planted hope for new possibilities.
Many times people can feel discouraged by the obstacles they are facing. Things might not be going well at work. A good friend has received a difficult diagnosis. Someone in your family has been in an accident and is seriously injured.
If we can plant some seeds of hope in the lives of those we meet each day, we can accompany them patiently as they try to grow through those challenging times. In walking with them the miracle is that we grow also.
As the flowers that we planted and the recipes that we mastered have enriched our lives, so to do the measures of kindness, fidelity, and forgiveness that we share with others help us to grow to become better followers of Jesus.
Growth is a process that can seem far too slow and overly frustrating. We plant our seeds and want to see those flowers immediately. We wonder why that new dish that we are making is taking so long in the oven.
Sometimes also we do not see the results of all of our hard work. We are planting the seeds for future generations to enjoy. We trust that there will be growth some day.
It is always planting time. Those three measures are calling us. The growth will come. The ground of hope awaits!
1. How do you feel when you discover a new recipe or a new plant?
2. Have the three measures for successful planting (kindness, fidelity, and forgiveness) helped you bring hope to others?
3. In what ways have you grown as you have tried to bring hope to others?
4. What have you learned from the sometimes slow process of growth?
5. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?
(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John McNamara)
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