Community Garden Revelations

As I was out in our community garden today, I noticed that the ground was getting pretty dry and cracked. I got out the hose and began to water my plants. As I began to put the hose away, I knew that I couldn’t just walk around other people’s plants that needed the nourishment that this cool water could give them.

So, I took the time to water each plant, and as I did, I prayed for the person who had planted them. I prayed for their kids, their jobs, their future. And then a thought occurred to me. “Isn’t this what prayer is all about?”

Yes, praying for other people is like watering the fruit and vegetables in their garden. Without water, they dry up and are less likely to be fruitful.  Without water, the seeds will never take root and pop through the soil. Without water, plants die.   In the same way, I can preach and teach my heart out, but if I never water the seeds that have been planted through faithful prayer, then those seeds run the risk of never bearing fruit, or getting choked out by weeds, or growing so shallow that when the July sun hits them, they have no root system strong enough to get them through and they wither.

So, today the garden reminded me of the importance of praying for others.
How often I go through my day, careful to water my plants and flower, but ignoring those of my neighbors.

Here are a couple ways we can water each other’s gardens:

1. Pray for people. Pray that they would be filled with the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, etc… and that they would stay attached to Jesus, the true vine. See John 15 and Galatians 5.

2.  Encourage people. NEVER underestimate the power of listening to people, looking them in the eye, placing your hand on their shoulder and speaking a genuinely kind word into their life. Like water to the soul.  Like choice apples on a silver platter are words that are fitly spoken.

3. See a need, meet a need. If you see something that is obvious and easy to fix, don’t walk by. If you know you can be generous, be generous. If you know a person needs a lift, don’t drive by. If a person is struggling, come alongside and help shoulder the burden.

Do these things and you will be blessed. And so will everyone around you.