May 1, 2013 - Lessons for the Watermelon Seeds 2013

As many of you know, I am a freak about watermelons. I spent an enormous amount of time and energy last year trying to grow some in an effort to help with food cost. We had about 8 melons that got to be small in size, but never grew beyond that. It was if they decided one morning to stop growing and taunt me. It was a huge disappointment. So in my dismay, I simply left them in the garden until late winter and finally plucked and trashed them. We tilled the garden area, as we had no really good results, and planted roses. However, upon inspection of the soil after we planted the roses last weekend and to my surprise, 8 of the 8 watermelon plants have re-emerged. And what's funny is that the largest leaf contains a singular seed attached to it. How is that? My reaction was not a beautiful sight. "So, you think you're just gonna pop up and gain all that attention from last year. Not." I really couldn't believe what I was seeing. No watermelon seed had escaped the melons that we discarded and yet there was a seed being held high in the air from the tip of the leaves. And, right in my newly, re-puporsed rose garden. It was almost as if the watermelons were saying, "we did it. We found our purpose and against the cold and your lack of attention, we did it." I had to laugh. Life is critical across the board from people to watermelons I guess. I thought, "I dug the bushes from their vine-entrapped cell so they could live, I'll let you live too. But this year, I won't make a fuss over you. You're gonna need to show me some determination to produce." Those were MY last thoughts. I came home yesterday only to discover that my husband had found a new spot, re-tilled the soil, removed stones and debris from 6 inches down that he feels will keep them from living well, moved all eight little seedlings and placed sticks where each had an identifiable marker. Really? And yet, I so see God in this. When others are ready to toss us aside, the winters of our lives have not allowed us to produce nor bear life, and the circumstances of our future seem dim, The Master Gardener, who breathed life into us all, never tosses us aside. In our desperation to live, we hold our leaves into the air again as hands lifted in worship and prayer, and the One who first placed us (even though we haven't yet produced or "fulfilled our purpose") finds a better location, with better soil, more attention and a greater chance at life. God never gives up on us. I smiled when I thought about how many times that was me with my seed in the air and hands lifted high hoping for another chance at life. And there was my Eternal Father not simply leaving me to fight through the old circumstances, but moving me to the newly created spot where my life was better than ever. Can you smile today as you see yourself in the story? I can. Have a great day, PK