“Look, Mommy!”

Shawna waved as Taylor rocketed down the slide. “Good job! Why don’t you and Lila go on the swings next?”

Taylor nodded, her pigtails bouncing as she grabbed Lila’s hand. The two girls ran to the swings, selecting adjoining ones.

Shawna grinned at Joanne, who rocked little Sawyer in his stroller. “I love that they’re old enough to swing by themselves now. We never used to be able to sit and catch our breath.”

Joanne snorted. “Yeah, I suppose I better enjoy it while it lasts. Once Sawyer gets mobile, I’ll be back to pushing swings again. You’re lucky Taylor is your youngest.”

“I guess. With the older two in school now, I don’t get to spend as much time with them. Every season has its good and bad, I suppose.”

As Sawyer fussed, Joanne put his pacifier back in his mouth. His whimpers quieted. “How are things going with the book club you joined?”

Shawna waved at Taylor, assuring her she was still watching. “It’s OK. But there are two women there that I’ve been trying to talk to about God. I’m not doing a good job.”

“Why don’t you think you’re doing a good job?”

“Because they’re not very interested. I try to bring up God or church whenever it fits in the conversation, but I’m not getting anywhere.”
“Can you give me an example?”

Shawna pressed her lips together in concentration. “Last week, one woman was worried about her husband losing his job. I told her about Dale losing his two years ago. We depended on God. and He took good care of us through the whole time.”

“That sounds like a great opportunity, and you took advantage of it. Why are you disappointed in yourself for that?”

Shawna frowned. “Because she listened politely and changed the subject. I didn’t reach her at all.”

“You don’t know that.”

Shawna opened her mouth to object, but Joanne held up a hand. “It’s like planting seeds. There’s even a Bible verse about that. Your job is to plant the seeds. It’s not up to you to determine how people will respond.”

“I don’t understand.”

Joanne squeezed Sawyer’s pudgy hand before returning her gaze to the playground where the girls were now collecting dandelions. “Not everyone will accept Jesus.”

Shawna adjusted her position on the park bench. “I realize that.”

“Do you know who will accept Him and who won’t?”

“Of course not.”

“Exactly. But God knows. There are people out there who we’d never expect to become Christians, but despite what we think, they do. There are other people who we think are close to giving their lives to Christ, but take decades before finally taking the plunge. My point is, in our own human wisdom, we don’t know whether the seeds we plant will take root.”

“So how do I know who to speak to about God?”

“That’s the point. We don’t. So we need to talk to everyone, and God will sort it out.”

The wind picked up and a flurry of maple seeds fluttered to the ground. Shawna picked one out of Joanne’s hair. “I don’t quite get the seed analogy, though.”

Joanne took the maple seed from Shawna. “This is a perfect example.” She held up the seed. “How many of these things do you think fall from one tree?”

Shawna gazed up at one of the maples overhead. “I don’t know. Hundreds or thousands?”
Joanna threw the seed in the air and it fluttered to the ground. “Probably thousands. But how many of them actually grow into new trees?”

Shawna shrugged. “These days, probably not many. Any seedlings probably fall prey to the lawnmowers, since so much of the park is an open field.”

Joanna nodded. “You’re right. But the trees keep producing seeds anyway, even though most of those seeds don’t grow into trees. We’re the same way. We need to keep planting seeds in people’s hearts, telling them about God. Only God can make those seeds grow.”

Shawna let out a breath. “I get it. Thanks. It’s still discouraging when I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere, but I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

Taylor and Lila scampered across the park, collecting handfuls of maple seeds and tossing them into the air, watching them flutter to the ground. Shawna laughed. “I’m afraid the next time I try to talk to someone about God, I’ll end up picturing the girls throwing seeds in the air.”

Joanne shrugged. “It’s a good analogy. Just remember – only God can make the seeds grow. All you have to do is sow them.” She turned to Shawna. “Should we join them?”

Shawna jumped up from the park bench. “You bet.” She ran over to the girls, scooped up a handful of seeds, and tossed them in their direction. Suddenly the idea of talking to people about God was a lot more appealing.

1 Corinthians 3: 5-9

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

God, thank You for putting people in our paths who need to hear about You. Please give us the opportunity and the boldness to share Your love with them. And please help us remember we are not responsible for how they respond. We are only responsible for obeying You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.