You Reap What You Sow

 I have many fond memories of summers from my childhood. A funny story came to mind after a recent devotional that focused on Galatians 6:7 which basically says, don't be tricked into believing it isn't true, you will reap whatever you sow. (My emphasis on the "you will" part of the scripture). My childhood memory most definitely supports the declaration of the Apostle Paul, so here we go!

As a youth growing up in East Tennessee,  summers never failed to provide a plethora of fresh vegetables and fruits on the vine or in a tree. This story focuses on one of those fruits on a vine, watermelons. There's nothing like slicing a chilled watermelon on a hot summer evening! The juice makes it easy to understand how the fruit got it's name, and the sweet nature of the fruit makes it a welcomed part of any gathering on a late Saturday afternoon. On the particular day that this story transpired, a group of family and friends had gathered on our front porch to enjoy a slice of that delectable treat. If eating watermelon is a memorable joy, then spitting the seeds would have to rank right up there near the top as well. Launching a seed into the air was always a race or the beginnings of a fierce competition with a light hearted outcome for all in attendance. The issue on this particular evening was the fact that our mom had recently made the decision to cultivate a flower bed across the front porch ground. She had dad till the ground, she planted the flower seeds, and then she continued to weed and water the row of upcoming sprouts. What mom did not realize was that during the recent watermelon soiree, several of the launched watermelon seeds found themselves situated right there in her newly formed flower bed. 

As the "flowers" began to grow, mom was a little confused about the vines that were starting to expand rather than a series of bright colored summer annuals. We didn't have the internet to search out the blooms nor the ensuing vine, but eventually it became apparent to mom and the rest of our family that these were not the daffodils that she had earnestly planted, but instead watermelon vines that had basically choked out the flowers and now owned what had suddenly transitioned from a flower bed to a watermelon vine garden. Not what she had intended to grow, but by weeding, watering, and nurturing the sprouts as they erupted from the rich fertile soil she was in actuality sowing into the growth of a watermelon patch. I suppose Paul's warning is applicable here, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7 In life, the same is true, we have to be careful what we nurture in our relationships, and our own personal development because what we sow is exactly what we will reap. 

My mom had the best of intentions as she watered and weeded what she believed was a bed of daffodils, yet what was sowed and nurtured was nowhere what she anticipated would be the outcome. Do we inadvertently do the same thing as we move in and out of our jobs, in our relationships, and ultimately in the very core of who we are to become? Life provides us with a multitude of opportunities to "sow" into the lives of others whether it is our children, our neighbors, or even into the lives of those we encounter on a daily basis. As my mom sowed the seeds and then nurtured them with weeding and watering we too should be sowing into the lives of others by planting seeds of God's goodness and offer of life eternal. We should be watering our relationships with mercy and grace coupled with a good example and sincere counsel. We are called to be there to assist others as they too weed out their own lives. The very next verse from Galatians 6 provides a caution about what we plant in the lives of others. "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:8. What we do each day is essential to our planting, nurturing, and harvesting. Our actions, our intentions, and our words are all part of the seeds we sow. In other words if we inadvertently plant watermelon seeds, don't expect daffodils to grow. Sow seeds that will produce what we need and what this world desperately needs. In Chapter 5 of the same letters to the Galatians, Paul provides a pretty good list of what we should be striving to sow into the lives of those we have the opportunity to sow. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23. Planting the seeds in the lives of others is of the utmost importance, yet if we do not plant and nurture seeds like those listed above then how can we expect to sow the same into the lives of others. "You will reap what you sow". 

Sowing seeds can be intentional or can happen much like the watermelon seed story my mother encountered. Regardless, we need to understand the concept of sowing and reaping in all we do. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23. I can't emphasize it and reemphasize it often enough, you are a leader, regardless of whether you want the responsibility that comes with it or not, you lead someone every day of your life. You decide what seeds you will sow into the lives of those you lead, sow seeds that will provide a harvest that will benefit the world in which we live!

Coach Carter