Spring! Don’t you feel so happy when spring is here and plants bloom? It makes me want to sing out loud and sleep on the grass and gaze on the clouds…
While I was on vacation, my mom suggested to me to start gardening. I thought it would be boring but as days passed while I was gardening, I realized that plants can be likened to our life. These are some principles I have learned:
The plants need constant care. Air, Water, Sunlight those are the basic things plants need to live. For us we need physical and spiritual nourishment. We need to take care of our bodies by eating healthy foods, regular exercise and proper rest. We also have to pray unceasingly, study the scriptures, and live righteously.
Good ground gives nutrients. My mom told me that loam soil is ideal for gardening. This soil retains nutrients and water than other type of soil.
Environment also affects us. School, work, church or other group of friends has a defining factor in our lives. We need to choose our friends on whom we spend most of our time. Their habits and manner of speaking or actions might rub off on us.
Fences protect the plants. I remember my first plot of seeds, I was just starting out so I wasn’t quite sure what else I was supposed to do. Fortunately it grew and I was really excited when it sprouted little green leaves! But my happiness was so short, because the next day it was trampled and crushed by children playing tag. After that incident, I fenced my little garden.
In life, these fences are the commandments of God. They are not there to keep us out, but to protect us from harmful things outside. We should be grateful that God gave us commandments for our happiness. He loves us so much that they are written in the scriptures. But it is also up to us whether we would put up the fence and be obedient to His commandments.
The garden needs weeding and pruning. As the plants are growing, I noticed that some weeds also started growing and my plants are getting thinner. It seems to me like the weeds are overcrowding the plants and are getting more nutrients. After I plucked them out the plants looked healthier.
Like us, we are not perfect persons and we commit mistakes. God knew that so He gave His only Begotten Son to atone for our sins so we can repent and be forgiven. We need to evaluate ourselves and ask what needs to be improved in our attitude. God wants us to be our best selves.
Plants follow the Sunlight. As we notice, plants generally grow in an upward direction towards the sun. Even the interior plants, because my mom has one and she puts them out regularly to get vitamins from the sun. All plants need sunlight.
As we all do, we also need God as our light in this world. We need His guidance and His words. He is constantly giving light to us. We just need to reach up and bask in His love for us. He has given all the protection and nourishment we need and we have to do our part so we can be worthy to come back to His presence.
Every day may not always promise us a good weather, clouds may dampen our spirits, storms of trial may come our way, but as one song said, “there’s a rainbow always after the rain.” Some tribulations are there for us to learn from it and make us stronger. When we continually improve and do what God expects of us, He is there and waiting for us to bloom radiantly.
We can really learn from simple things we see everyday...
