Thrive

I love everything about spring. It is a season of hope of things to come; when the dullness of winter is replaced by new life.

Motivated by spring fever, I decided my porch needed colorful flowers. A collector of all things vintage, when I found an old enamel baby bathtub in an antique shop, I decided it would be the perfect planter. I stopped by a local garden shop, selected an array of brilliant annuals, loaded up on potting soil and hurried home to plant my flowers. I was delighted with the results.

I watered, nurtured, and admired my container garden. Overflowing with blooms, it was the perfect enhancement to my porch-sitting. As the weeks passed, the blooms died off. Even though I pinched off the dead flowers and adjusted the watering schedule, there was no new growth. Then much to my dismay, the tips of the leaves curled under and turned brown; soon the stems were dead. In a matter of days, only two plants were alive. Frustrated, I yanked out the dead plants and made another visit to the garden shop. And…repeat.

I pondered my twice-failed gardening efforts.

When I bought the plants, I read the information on how to care for them, but I had misinterpreted the instructions. I had purchased ‘full sun’ plants, assuming that meant the plants could tolerate full sun. I realized that in order for those plants to thrive, they needed – required – full sun. Giving them anything less, like only morning sun, was a death-sentence.

Then I had a spiritual ah-ha moment. Just as those plants were created for full sun, I am – we are – created for full Son.

Often, I allow things to keep me in the shadows, limiting exposure to what I need most: time with the Lord.

For me, I know social media is hindering my personal and spiritual growth. While it serves a purpose, for me social media has become a time thief. I spend way too much time on Facebook, when I really need to put my face in THE Book. Honestly, just how many videos of cute animals do I need to watch? And why do I get sucked in reading comments from people I don’t even know ranting on a post I don’t even care about?

So, while I am not opting out of social media or technology, I will limit my screen time.

I am going old-school. I plan to turn the pages of my Bible more often.

I plan to engage in a Bible study with a workbook that requires handwritten responses.

I plan to journal more.

I plan to write more.

I plan to thrive.

I want full Son and nothing less.

…and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,

that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

~ Ephesians 3:19