Watch 'em Grow

Tiny trees on my daily commute

For several months, I noticed this empty grassy lot surrounded by lovely homes and large trees. It was awaiting a plan. It was green but also bare.

As I drove to work passing the lot with the sun starting to rise, and I noticed the neat rows of fledgling trees. From my moving car, I could not determine what type of trees had been planted. Will they bear flowers or fruit? How long until I can see growth?

A month later, I noticed that some of the trees were taller than others. Some were fuller; some were greener. They were planted at the same time. They were in the same sunlight and soil. They were receiving the same rain. Yet there were not growing at the same rate.

Two months passed, then three. And each time I passed that grove of trees I heard this verse in my head:  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. - I Corinthians 3: 6-7

Hmmm. That explains so much. But God gave the growth. This is so relevant to our parenting journey in this season. We are planting. We are even watering. But we absolutely need God to bring the growth if there is to be growth at all. We can watch, and we can pray. We even speak up and share our counsel. But the Holy Spirit is there for them. He is good, and He brings the growth.