Hope in an Almost Dead Potted Plant

God taught me something so basic to our faith yet so important through an almost dead potted plant I see every time I drive into my garage.  When we first moved in our house I planted in the front flowerbeds these miraculous plants called perennials I didn’t know existed until becoming a homeowner. Springtime rolls around and they extraordinarily pop up every time with little to no help at all.  It makes me feel like I have green thumb, the reality is I stink at all things green.  So, each year I see the beautiful flowers popping up I think, “I can totally plant a garden, or fill those pots with beautiful flowers.”

Things are planted and then things die, or weeds take over.  The “green thumb” my grandparents, parents, and sister have passed over me like a rocket flying to mars.  But this week God truly opened my eyes to this one potted plant I see when I pull into the garage multiple times a day.  It is literally brown now and 5 feet from its source of beauty, life, and radiance…. The water faucet.  Yes, the water faucet.  I will go days on end running from one event/ activity to the next and rarely take the few minutes it needs to thrive by simply watering it.

God revealed how many times our Bibles are in sight, yet- we rarely drink from it, take it in, running from one event/ activity to the next- missing out on life Himself.  That deep eternal nourishment from the only Source that gives beauty, life, and radiance.  You may have a green thumb… I’m jealous, but you will probably tell me a big part of it is simply a good amount of water, putting them in the right spot, and remembering them often.  That’s what my grandma said anyway.
​
We need to take in the Eternal Water- be around people who encourage us in our faith, as much as possible, and encourage everybody by our ultimate supply source, Jesus Himself.  We make life way to difficult.  I felt foolish when I saw the basic failure on my part, yet thankful for the eternal reminder.  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:37-38   * A side note:  I have watered the poor plant in the picture for the last few days and there is a little more green coming through.  Maybe there is hope for this plant, too!

---