Sotiris: Lesson 2

Wounds can happen with even the best intentions

Yesterday I left Sotiris outside to enjoy some sunshine (he's supposedly an indoor plant) but brought him back in for the night as it's still getting pretty chilly at night.* However, my room tends to get dry and warm with the heat on and I don't know if it was the change in temperature or just a lack of observation previously on my part, but when I went to sit outside with Sotiris today, I noticed a couple of brown leaves. A few of them were new baby shoots that had started, but shriveled up before anything could firmly take hold. The others were damaged spots on already established leaves. 

I. Was in. Shock.

Legitimately!

I mean, I like to think I'm not THAT oblivious to something that I'm responsible to care for! I've been watering and praying and giving him sunshine and fresh air....and yet here, before my eyes, I see evidence of damage done to this thing that I am far more attached to than my pride will let me admit outright. And I'm...clueless.

As I sat there apologizing, to both the Lord and the tree, for my negligence, and wondering how this could happen when I've been so diligent in caring for him, the Lord began to whisper a few things to me.

1) It is possible to not see/notice new growth until it's too late - and sometimes we never actually see it. And this isn't always a bad thing. Don't misunderstand me. I think that far too often though, we can miss the "first steps", the "new growth", the wing stretching, the stepping out into something new because the "new" can often seem so insignificant. And dare I say, in my own life anyway, I miss it as much in my own life as I do in the lives of those the Lord has granted met he privilege of being witness to. Sometimes the dead leaves fall off before we ever know they're there. 

And I had no idea what caused the bruising on those leaves, but it made me sad to know that these beautiful leaves would likely have a permanent scar from something that I had no awareness of. What if it happened again? What if...? 
"What if's?" trail along in my mind thinking that I somehow needed to protect the tree from....nature. It's natural. It's not pleasant, but it happens. And maybe I did have a part in the wounding....(ooo, ouch. Here we go Lord...#2), but maybe I didn't. And either way, maybe these little wounds won't be the death of my little tree. 

I've been challenged to be more mindful of my words and actions and how they impact those around me. I don't want to miss the opportunities to encourage new growth and I don't want to be the cause for someone else's wounds. Most certainly, premature growth happens and maybe it doesn't work out. And not all bad experiences are because of me. But I can be more aware of what is happening and how to respond.

2) Wounding....The Lord has been healing a lot of old wounds. And some new ones. It's easy to get angry and point the finger at those that we feel should have known better, should've seen, should've done better. I thought of how many stories of parents who have had the best intentions to do right by their kids, only to find out that their child was wounded by some event that they weren't even aware of. Whether it's the "first steps" that parents completely miss or new growth that they were just too busy to see or just life happening...children get wounded. 

As a child who has been wounded, this reality gives me the grace to show forgiveness. It reminds me to be intentional to see beyond the fault and address the wound. As well as to remember that sometimes failures promote more growth. Failure doesn't have to be the end.

3) Unlike us, God is never unaware. He doesn't miss the new growth - whether it's premature or not -  or the bruises, and he knows exactly it's purpose in our lives. He has a plan, a good plan (See Jer 29:11).

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depth of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psa 139: 13-16

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about the significance of wounds in our lives. Not the least of which is that the wounds do not make us, do not define our worth or ability. Sotiris is a very healthy and happy tree. So he's got a bruised leaf or two...I've probably got a few more than two bruised leaves on my life tree but I have been blessed beyond measure. Not because I've earned it. I've not worked my way into overcoming the pains. I've simply once again come to realize that the wounds don't define me, don't limit me, don't value me.
Only Jesus can do that. 
Anyone says who says any different speaks a lie. 
Jesus knew me before sin. Jesus knows me now. And the really beautiful thing?! Jesus was with me and saw me in EVERY bruise and EVERY failed new growth attempt. 

The tree will continue to grow.

*It was still winter in FL during the time of writing this

Sotiris: Lesson 1

There is One caring for you

This concept of caring for a plant is strange to me. In fact, it's one that I've often railed against it in playful fun at friends who think greenery in the house is a necessity. And yet...

Here I am - a new and PROUD owner of a tiny little tree named Sotiris. A name meaning Salvation. Named so for the purpose of the tree: to remind me of those whose salvation I am believing for and chosen in effort to represent the passage in Ephesians that I repeatedly come back to:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen" Eph 3:14-21

 I felt compelled to get this tree as a symbol and sort of catalyst for my prayers. It seemed to be a pretty cool thought to get to watch the growth of a tree and was somehow sure that it was meant to teach me some perspective in the salvation process, but I truly didn't know what to expect. Within the first few days of ownership, however, the Lord has spoken faithfully - "I am taking care of you." 
I can see how food, water, shelter, sunshine for this tree is dependent much on me. If I leave it in my bedroom there won't be much growth happening and that would defeat the purpose of having the tree.  But since the tree represents to me, the spiritual side of life, I'm reminded that God is taking care of me - and those who I am trusting for. 
He controls and knows the needs we have for food, water, shelter, sunshine and all the rest. And in His sovereign hands, he's got it under control.
This of course is not a new thought for me, but somehow in this moment the truth that God is intentionally and willingly taking care of me, just became a whole lot more personal. He's feeding, clothing, and caring for his children. 

"And which of you be being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matt 6:27-31

So I want to encourage you with a little reminder. The birds of the air and the flowers of the field are taken care of by God Almighty. And this same God is offering to take care of each of us too. His ways are perfect. His ways are just. His love is true. He offers us the chance to rest in his care and trust Him with all of the cares of this world. What a relief it is to turn it all over to him and just rest. Taste and see that Lord is good in all of His ways.