3rd Pickle's Patch Article

(Keep in mind it's going into a 'kids' corner' and is therefore not exactly geared towards adults...haha)

Spring is officially here! The birds are singing, the wild flowers are blooming, and winter has hidden itself for another three seasons. Waking up to sunlight streaming through the windows reminds me that summer is just around the corner, but I am perfectly happy to enjoy spring while we have it.

Like my mother, I love to garden. I love planting my flowers, watering them, and turning them so each little leaf gets just the right amount of sunlight. I even talk to my plants! I tell them fanciful stories of the funny things that have happened to me, or read to them from one of my books. Sometimes, I even have to plant them in a bigger pot and clean up a mess.  I take very good care of them, and in return, they grow into beautiful colorful flowers that make my apartment smell like a bed of roses.

What do you think would happen if I didn’t take care of my plants? What if I forgot to water them for a few weeks? Do you think they would still be as healthy and beautiful? Or what if I closed my blinds and never let the sun shine on them? Could the flowers still bloom into their colorful petals? The fact is that for plants to grow up healthy and strong, they have to be nurtured. They need sunlight, water, and good soil.

Just like plants grow, so do you. Can you live on junk food like ice cream and soda pop? No! To grow up healthy and strong you have to eat the right foods, drink plenty of water, get lots of sleep, and be rooted in the right soil! What soil is that? Well, the soil of Jesus! The apostle Paul once wrote in the Bible about being rooted and grounded in love in his letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:17-19).  God wants us to be rooted in Jesus. While eating the right foods, drinking water, and getting plenty of rest helps our physical body grow, being rooted in Jesus Christ helps our spiritual body grow.

Also, just like a plant needs certain things; so does our spiritual body. We need food that comes from reading the Bible (Matthew 4:4). Even as children it’s important to read your Bible and start memorizing verses. The Bible equips us to serve God (2 Timothy 3:17; Ephesians 6:17). It even teaches us how we should live (Psalm 32:8). We need water that comes from mature Christians ‘pouring’ into us. It’s important for us to attend church on a regular basis so that we can continually learn about Jesus and how to live a righteous life.  Church also gives us a great place to fellowship with other Christians. Through that fellowship we can help each other grow into stronger Believers. Lastly, we need sunlight; the sunlight that comes from Jesus Christ. It’s important to build a relationship with Jesus through prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is one of the best ways for us to communicate with God and grow in our relationship with Him.

I have a challenge for you! After you finish reading today, sit down with your Bible and your parents and look up these verses.

Ephesians 3:17-19

Matthew 4:4

John 15:5

1 Thessalonians 5: 12-22

When you finish reading, talk with your parents about what you need to grow up healthy and strong both physically and spiritually. Then make a list of things you could do every day to help you grow and start growing!