Growing into Maturity

My coworker Roslyn has a green thumb.

The plants around the office thrive as a result of her careful attention.

One day, she received an African violet as a gift.

Soon she noticed that it was not flourishing as expected.

Many of the leaves slumped as if exhausted by the struggle of living or were yellow around their edges from malnourishment.

She brought it to the office from home for a change of scenery, hoping it would “catch itself.” She set it in a sunny spot next to another African violet whose purple flowers brought us daily joy. “This one doesn’t look as healthy as the others,” I said, pointing to the sickly newcomer. In an effort to save the struggling plant when it didn’t improve, she took it to a nearby nursery for a diagnosis. When she returned, her grim expression told me the prognosis wasn’t good. “The woman at the plant nursery said it’s dying. It has no roots,” Roslyn said. Although I have no talent with plants, especially a delicate African violet, I appreciate their beauty as evidence of God’s creative power.

It hurt to think it might not be saved. It had become a casualty of its environment. The pot was too big and deep to provide what its roots needed to grow into maturity. When the root system does not fill the pot, an African violet cannot absorb all the water that it needs. It cannot grow to its full potential. However, Roslyn had returned from the plant nursery with advice on starting new growth from its healthy leaves.

We became excited about the prospect of its future.

It could be restored and eventually bloom, we hoped. I tried to imagine the grief our heavenly Father must feel when one of His precious “flowers” withers in their faith before they have a chance to mature. We must maintain a firm connection to God to live. Our roots must be entrenched in Him from whom we receive our nutrients for growth. Just as the African violet was in the gentle hands of a true gardener, we also can thrive if we are rooted in the loving care of the Master. He is excited about the future He has planned for us and knows that He can restore us and cause us to “bloom” for Him.

Sherma Webbe Clarke