Thriving

Written by Tim MacGowan

Nancy and I went shopping at Merrifield Gardens yesterday as we have a gap in our front yard that needs a plant.  We asked one of the experts there what shrubs would thrive in that environment.  She asked about shade and sun, soil drainage, etc. but we were not narrowing down the list too much.  Then we happened to mention that it would be planted next door to our hydrangea, which is flourishing in that spot.  She immediately said, “Then plant a rhododendron.  If your hydrangea grows well there, so will the rhododendron.  They like the same conditions.”

Nancy commented later that lesson was a good analogy to spiritual growth.  All the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc. from Galatians 5) will flourish in a life rooted in a relationship with Jesus and valuing what he values.  Self-control flourishes alongside humility.  Peace next to joy.  They require the same sorts of conditions to thrive.  Paying more attention to the condition of the unseen roots than the seen fruits will yield a more abundant harvest in our lives.