The Soil You Choose

Have you driven past the fields lately to see how high the crops have grown? If you are like me, you wonder. How can these fields evolve in just a matter of months?

Because I'm dating a farmer, I've gained a little bit of knowledge on how they keep fields prosperous. My favorite lesson I've learned about farming is from Cody: "You do what you can. Get your soil ready, plant your seeds, take care of your land, and the rest is in God's hands." Hearing this, I feel like many people can take advice from a farmer's life. They choose, treat, care, and most of all, trust. I think this goes for every relationship, but specifically, your relationship with God.

When you begin to sprout, people start talking about who made the earth. Some people gave praise to science, and others gave it to God. When I grew up, I always knew that God was the answer. I was fortunate to have that faithful mindset planted by my parents. As the years went on, I chose God. I chose him in First Communion, in Confirmation, in happy times, and even in hard times. Some days I would forget to “water” my relationship with God. Other days, I didn’t want to trust him. But, no matter what, my faith was planted in Him.

Sadly, not everyone’s story is as easy as having a home dug in good soil. Some people have their faith planted in the wrong turf. Some grounded their lives in wrongdoing, despite growing in faith as children. Did you choose wrong? If you’ve planted in the wrong garden, it is never too late to dig again.

“Unless souls are saved, nothing is saved; there can be no world peace without soul peace.”- Fulton J. Sheen

Since we are all given free will by God, our relationship with Him is up to us. Much like any other physically present relationship, ours with God requires the right choice. In "The Parable of the Sower," God shows the significance of choosing the right soil, to be fruitful with His word or to harden our hearts.

Read "The Parable of the Sower"

The sower has seeds that fall on the path, rocks, bushes, and good soil. If you separate each soil it's easier to understand why the seeds did/didn’t flourish and connect it to spirituality.

1. The path- no coverage, bait for the birds (a hard heart, blocking belief)

2. The rocks-couldn't sink past the hard ground ( a shallow heart, hearing the word and never taking initiative)

3. The bushes- got caught in the thorns (a crowded heart, spiritual growth is blocked by sin and fear)

4. The good soil- sunk in, covered, protected, clear grounds, and it was nourished (a fruitful heart, spiritual growth made possible by hearing and acting out faith truthfully)

So, how do you take this lesson, and apply it to your life? You have to choose, treat, care, and most of all, trust. Make the choice to grow. Treat your growth with patience and care. Finally, trust God in the seasons.

And, when you are down, do it again.

choose. treat. care. trust.

And, when you are on top of the world, do it again.

choose treat. care. trust.

And, when it comes the time to raise a family, do it all again.

choose. treat. care. trust.

Now, I challenge you to look into your life and see how your relationships have grown. Where are your plants wilting? Where have your plants prospered? When did you water them last? See how these relationships can grow and do it with God.