Planting hope and growing a relationship
Relationships are very similar to plants. With the proper tending and attention, they can grow to unthinkable heights, but before that growth can take place, the roots must be developed, or the plant will not withstand the turmoil brought upon it above ground.
Fatherhood Initiative exists to grow those roots and build the foundation upon which fathers may stand as they learn how to lead their children. May is a time for planting, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to help plant a small seed or tend the soil within our community for fathers through this awesome initiative.
I Corinthians 3:6 says, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” I cannot begin an article without first sharing my foundation. God has made all things, and he is the only source that can bring true growth to any father.
Seeds must be planted. Days exist when we plant seeds of joy, happiness, love, tenderness, hope, encouragement, and many other emotions and actions that lead people to joy. Unfortunately, days also come when we plant seeds of pain, bitterness, unforgiveness and anger. Either way, seeds are planted daily, whether we plant them intentionally or they just fall out of our bag of seeds without us knowing it.
The awesome characteristic about a seed, though, is it can sprout in many different conditions. As a father I must recognize the same is true for my family. They are planting seeds all of the time. The sower is not the focus, though. It is the soil in which the seed is planted.
Men, we are the soil in which seeds can be planted. How we react to those verbal, emotional and physical seeds shows our character and what type of soil we have prepared for our families in which they grow. The challenge is to be soft, accepting, nutritious soil where roots can grow deep.
Sharing intentional time with our families, spending time in the Word and switching off the media baby sitter are just a small percentage of actions that can help lead to a more fertile soil. The idea is soil must be tended to, cared for and tilled.
“That’s just the way I am” is an excuse I have used before to brush off the idea of change and plowing up my own soil, refusing the idea of becoming better even for the ones I love. Seeds cannot be planted in hard soil; they will just sit on top and burn up and die in the sun. Seeds will grow but not develop roots if our soil has a bunch of weeds growing alongside of the seedlings. They will grow up but will be choked out by all of the other things, what we call “life.”
When we have shallow soil, relationships can grow quickly but are uprooted easily by hard times. We also must remember soil changes. Soft soil can become hard and compact. Compact soil can become soft. Rocky soil can have the rocks removed, and shallow soil can be added to. We are never at a point where change is not possible, so keep tilling the soil.
As you enjoy the sprouting of new flowers and trees throughout the month of May and even the rest of the year (good preparation), think upon the soil you are providing for all of those little seeds, bad or good, and which ones you will allow to take root in your life. Remember, though, God created all things for the good of those who love him, and he is the one who can bring true growth to our fathers in their relationships with family.
Editor’s note: This column was written by Isaac Bush, a member of the Fatherhood Initiative committee.