In September, we planted a fall garden with several kinds of lettuces, some kale, chard, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cabbages. What is interesting about some of these fall plants is how closely they resemble each other when they are small. I didn’t plant collards. At least, I didn’t mean to plant collards. I meant to plant broccoli. For a month I have had the most gorgeous broccoli leaves, but for some reason there are no crowns of broccoli. Finally, I am having to admit, realize, these plants are not broccoli. I thought I planted broccoli, but that isn’t what is growing. That isn’t what is producing. These plants are producing collards. Wow! This is so much like our lives. We want to end up being kind, compassionate, loving people. We want to grow into people committed to truth with strong family values. We want to become godly people. But am I planting the right seeds? Are we planting seeds of goodness and seeds of truth? If you and I are planting seeds that sound like, “The check is in the mail;” “Sorry, she isn’t home right now;” “No! OMG, she didn’t really do that!” Should I be surprised that our hearts aren’t growing into Christlikeness? Watch what we plant. Some seeds look an awful lot alike. But they produce very different lives.
– Virginia Thompson