Water Your Worth

There is a pastor that did a talk that I have saved on my phone and at one point he says, “Next time someone says they want to get to know you… ask them first, if they are rocks or fertilizer.” He was referring to the seed that each of us are and how rocks will keep the tree and fruits from being produced. We need to be aware of those in our life that are rocks as well. “Haven’t you realized that people that aren’t going anywhere good want you (generally speaking) to do it with them?”, was a further explanation he shared. I was always told about the bucket with crabs – one crab in a bucket will figure its way out but if there is multiple crabs in a bucket then they will all stay put because just as one tries to get out the others pull them back in.

Life is filled with rocks, crabs, weeds and buckets. And nothing points these characteristics out more than when you are going deep in a journey that is filled with lots of everything. Not many people are able to stay nearby when someone is in the trenches of the war that life can be. I don’t mean to be harsh with this but all too often so many people are not able to look beyond their nose to even sense the life of another person. (I will admit that there have definitely been times, especially this year, where I just have not had the capacity to even attempt to connect with anyone else other than God and what was brought to my attention.) I get it more intimately than most and definitely more real this year than ever before – I have seen a lot and felt even more, there is nowhere I have been that is not experiencing some level of concern. The pains are in everything and everywhere…

But

How will you face it? Do you know that sometimes life is too much and you have to withdraw and focus with the only one that can do anything? Or do you feed on others and keep them from the path that is better for them and ultimately you?

There have been lots of changes in everyone’s life and I love celebrating with everyone as they make accomplishments and do things they really enjoy and are thriving in – it is truly one of the greatest things to witness goodness progressing in the lives of others. And because I want the best for everyone else I tend to avoid the question asking me how I am or answer with all is well – ultimately it all is! God is good and has great purpose in all things, I am thankful to be trusted with the needs to shed and grow. But, there are still people out there that are watching and hoping to see my demise for whatever reason. People with hardened hearts or selfish mindsets will not be able to comprehend the amount of care that there truly is in giving space while going through the depths of life. It will always seem like your love in knowing that you need space to grow is something personal or against them when it is simply a very necessary time of gestation.

I imagine it must be incredibly humiliating and painful for a caterpillar to go from one form into a goop and then become a completely different form. Our Father is so awesome though that He knows and made it possible for that little caterpillar to be safe and hidden in the cocoon while it undergoes huge changes and comes out as a whole new creation. Just as He thinks of all the details of who you are and all things, He knows that sometimes we need to not only step away from the rocks but to establish greater discernment on who would be a rock in order to not only grow but to bring forth the fruit that He has made you to provide for His world.

So… how can we practice this? Well, first don’t take offense, then practice Godly love, forgive and stay faithful as you continually seek the way God has for you. I have recently been asking for greater resilience in not only practicing the fruits of the Holy Spirit but also to allow them to exude and spread around in whatever we do. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Each of us are something so very special and are worth getting to know from the perspective that God created for His perfect everything.

Are you a rock or fertilizer?