Faith Like A Radish Seed

Faith like a Radish Seed

[Jesus said,] “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Matthew 13:31-32

The Amish give much thought to what goes into their gardens. The border is rimmed with flowers—zinnias, marigolds, and huge spider plants. One might think they are simply for looks, but marigolds keep moles out of the garden. The vegetables vary, depending on what space permits, but among those commonly planted are lettuce, carrots, celery, cooking and sweet radishes, onions, beets, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, and much more. The Amish are raised with a garden being part of their lives, and they can’t imagine anything different. They often spend time during the winter poring over seed catalogs and dreaming of the growing season to come.

Some of the first produce to be ready includes lettuce, radishes, and green onions. Later in the summer, children can be seen sneaking out to the garden with a salt shaker in hand to snack on fresh peas. A number of Amish families sell their produce at roadside stands. Not only does it help raise money, it gives the children something to do and an opportunity to learn business sense. And to think all of this produce started with little seeds.

The seed of faith is small when it is first planted in the heart. It must be protected and watered and nurtured, and only then will it grow. But seeds, though small, have something wonderful within them. And faith—when it grows—turns into something wonderful, too—a harvest of goodness in our lives.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the seeds of faith that were first planted in my life. Lord, I pray that those seeds will continue to grow and flourish and nurture others in wonderful ways.