God’s Watering Can

Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

MY LITTLE “HELPERS” are always ready to stand on a chair and crack an egg. They are very eager to use the mop. They want in on all the riveting chores and love to get their hands dirty.

One of their main jobs is watering the plants. I read recently that to get all the fantastic benefits of clean air inside our homes, we should have no less than eighteen plants. So I’m going for it. I am on my way to becoming a plant lady, and I am not sorry about it. The plants may be sorry, but with the assistance of my little helpers, we are trying our best to nurture each of these little green friends.

We have a simple, inexpensive red watering can from Ikea that we use for watering. But you’d think it was made of gold the way my children fight over it. It is the most basic of watering cans, and its sole purpose is to hold the water poured into it and then pour that water out.

Most days I feel like a very basic watering can. Nothing flashy, just an ordinary vessel that God’s love can be poured into and poured back out of, watering thirsty plants in my path. When my watering can seems dry and empty, when I feel as though I have nothing more to give, today’s verse reminds me that I do.

The Spirit of God produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). And we see numerous places in Scripture where we are reminded of these treasures—treasures we already possess that God will fan into flame through His Spirit.

Let’s remember that God works in us as we work out the gift of salvation given to us. We need to take hold of this treasure and practice using it. One way to practice pouring out love is to visualize your most loving self. What kinds of things are you saying to others? What is your posture as you listen to them? How are you filling them with God’s love?

Grace looks like an ordinary watering can doing extraordinary work: being filled up and pouring back out. Visualize how Jesus would love and talk to those closest to you. Think about how He would live standing in your shoes. Then ask God to help you reflect Him and to produce the fruit of love in you.

GRACE REFLECTION: Visualize yourself as a simple watering can. See God pouring out His love in you and filling you up. Then visualize yourself pouring out His love on others in your life. What kinds of things are you saying and doing? Walk this out by faith today.