Nature has a way of teaching us a lot of lessons that can help us live a productive life. I have decided to update us with some more lessons from the plant I wrote about the last time since I realized there is so much more to learn from the beauty of plants.
I have indeed learnt simple life lessons that has to do with relationships, spirituality, emotions, timing, etc and I will be sharing some of them here. I am not sure this is going to be the last time I will be writing about the lessons I learnt from plants because a new passion has truly grown out of tending just a pot of plant and I intend to look into making this passion a long lasting one.
MORE LESSONS FROM PLANTS
DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME : Hubby has not fully been a part of this journey with me but as usual from the backstage he gives his advice from to time and that has helped tremendously. One of the advice he gave me has to do with the right time to water plants. I had been so busy in the morning that I did not water the plant before the sun got quite high in the sky. Thinking I was doing what is best for the plant, so I went ahead to water it in the afternoon while the sun was high in the sky and very hot. As I watered the plant I could hear him laugh hysterically as he told me to come and get some lecture from him on how to tend a plant. I initially thought he was joking because I saw nothing wrong with what I was doing (I was watering a plant and I know plants love water ). He then explained to me that the best time to water plants is very early in the morning (before it gets hot) or late in the evenings considering that they are prone to accept water more at those times of the day. He added that giving them water when the sun is up and hot will burn the plants as the sun will eventually heat up the soil, which of course will affect the health of the plant. It really made sense to me but I did not want him to feel like he had given me such a great advice so I acted like it was not a big deal because he was already feeling like a pro when he saw my reaction the moment he explained this to me. Anyways, I decided to look up the best timing for watering plants and it was just exactly what he said. Doing the right thing at the right time gives the best result but procrastinating on what ought to be done now till later can affect several lives and things negatively just in same manner as with the plants. ( John 9:4, Ephesians 5:15-17, Luke 9:59-62, Hebrews 12:11, James 4:17)
BEAUTY IS A PRODUCT OF CARE: A plant well cared for does not only come out healthy and beautiful, it is also bound to be more productive. This applies to our lives as humans. Caring for the different areas of our lives yields amazing results that reveals so much beauty for all to behold. This however only happens when the right amount of care is put in place. An unattended plant loses its beauty gradually so does a life left without proper care. Jesus was able to influence His disciples and followers because He paid special attention to His spiritual growth, personal development and interpersonal relationships. He grew in wisdom and stature. He did not pay attention to His outward growth only, His inward growth was also taken seriously. Little wonder His life was able to produce fruits even as He groomed others to become just like Him. The beauty His life radiated was such that brought others to the feet of the Father. Let your beauty be such that comes from within and is capable of drawing others to the Cross because any beauty short of this will be of no value to the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 5:16, Luke 2:52, Hebrews 4:15, John 15:1-8)
PATIENCE IS PART OF THE GROWTH PROCESS: This generation is one that has no patience for situations and circumstances to run its course in their lives. Delayed gratification now sounds more like a plague than a blessing. If there is anything a lot of us desire, it is instant gratification. Our lack of patience is what fuels tension, anxiety, impulsivity which gives room for satanic deception and rebellion.
As much as God has blessed the body of Christ with diverse gifts, the inability of man to follow the Spirit’s leading has pushed a lot of gifted and chosen vessels into doubting the love, promises and wisdom of God, so bad that staying faithful while we wait on God to do what He promised has become pretty much impossible and as a result, we deceive ourselves into thinking that true progress is all about speed (getting there early irrespective of the route taken) rather than direction (the route God intend to takes us through).
Plants by nature do not sprout the moment it’s seeds are sown. It takes time for the seeds sown to grow as the gardener is expected to dig up the soil, put each plant into its new abode, tend it, smile, and wait patiently for the seeds to sprout and for the growth to become visible. We all know that plants can not be rushed through their growth process.
As much as one may not see anything on the surface of the soil at the time of waiting, of a certainty, something is happening underneath as long as proper care is given, the roots also will be strengthened and then there will be a visible result with time. Life is beautiful when we patiently wait through each stage because then we become confident, decisive, thorough thinkers and ultimately successful. (1 Samuel 13:8-14, Galatians 6:9, Philippians 4:6, Jeremiah 29:11)
BALANCE YOUR EMOTIONS: Out of obsession and excitement, I eventually overwatered the plant so much that the soil won’t absorb the excess water. I needed no one to tell me at this point that I was giving the plant too much than it needed which could be detrimental to its health. The leaves were becoming brown, soft and limp and there were indentations on the top of the leaves. It became obvious that I needed to slow down on the excessive care if I want the plant to recover and become healthy again.
As much as lack of care or love is capable of negatively affecting plants, so also is excessive love or care capable of destroying. There is a need for balance if the plant will live a healthy life, considering that some plants require more attention than others. The same applies to humans, life issues and relationships. Love should come with utmost discipline and within necessary limits.
Sometimes, we think we love people so much we cannot imagine life without them, only to realize we are actually obsessed with them. This kind of love from my experience chokes the receiver and leaves them with no other option but to escape for their own safety, sanity and peace.
As much as I love the plant I am tending, there is a need for me to give it some breathing space so that my love does not cause it more harm than it already has. This teaches us as humans to be careful not to love others, or stuffs to the point that we choke them with love so much that it becomes a problem rather than a blessing to the receiver. If you truly love a person, you will learn to let them live life in a way that they can make their choices, learn, relate with others and live in such a way that they can stand on their own knowing that their source and the only person they cannot do without is God. (1 John 2:15-17, Hebrews 12:6-8, Hosea 2:19-20)
There is really so much to learn from nature and now is a good time for us all to put to practice some of the life lessons nature teaches because more than ever before we understand from recent happenings that we are not in control of the affairs in the universe, but there is a Supreme being who does as He pleases, can never be wrong, blamed or faulted regarding His decisions and actions. Learn from nature the act of letting God be God as only He indeed is sovereign in the affairs of the world.
Shalom.
Author Profile
- Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast
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