“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the
fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground.’”
(Genesis 1:28 NIV)
One glance
out my window reveals the marvel of God’s beauty.
My husband
is blessed with talent to transform uncultivated land into a corner of paradise.
Eighty-five tall trees of differing species were felled in order to build our
house. While many stately, thriving trees remain, Jeff’s toil has successfully converted
our landscape from a forgotten forest into an exotic garden.
Horticulture
is a talent I don’t have. My mother loved working in the yard for hours,
digging and planting. She knew all the proper and improper names for everything
that grew in the sandy soil of our Florida home. I conveniently hid in the
house practicing the piano or writing letters to avoid Mama’s beckon to come
out and “play.” I stay out of my husband’s garden, too. Mr. Rake calls my name,
but I don’t hear him.
Too often I
assume this verse in Genesis was written only to encourage God’s people to have
children, birth babies. It is much more than that. He commands us to produce
life from all of nature, not just our human bodies. It is an honor and
privilege to raise children, animals, and plants in our piece of creation.
God uses
dormant seeds to push life into trees, flowers, and plants. The seeds that Jeff scatters
yield monster plants that provide luscious fruit and vegetables all summer,
even into autumn.
How are
you filling the earth with God’s glory?
I will
make sure my heart is full of sweet blessings to help cultivate the seeds in
others’ hearts today. I hope you will, too!
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