Jun
14
2018
A Sunday Only Kind Of Person
Posted in Daily Living 2 Comments
It was a morning of porch sitting.
A friend invited me over for a cup of tea and a morning on her front porch.
It was an easy invitation to accept.
There’s something about a front porch, a cup of tea, and a friend that just seems right.
My friend is a mother of eight children.
She has two sets of twins.
There are animals on the property, a beautiful vegetable garden, and quite a few out buildings.
The rooster made himself known all morning.
Another friend joined us as well.
Three women sat on lovely wicker furniture on a front porch.
The other two women had coffee.
My friend graciously made a cup of tea for me; scones and lemon curd was served as well.
The conversation was easy and refreshing.
The Lord is the glue that holds our friendship together.
The other woman has five children like me.
Between the three of us, there were eighteen children and one grandchild represented.
The breeze was gentle.
A light rain had fallen making everything seem to glisten.
I heard water that I thought was coming from a rain spout.
The sound was actually a fountain in a beautiful bird bath that was tucked in her garden.
The driveway back to her home is long and winding.
It meanders through the woods.
It seems as if you are in another world when you finally reach the house.
It is so private, so serene, so bucolic.
I think God intended for us to share the beauty of His creation with others.
Porch sitting and noticing the things He has made, refreshed our spirits.
The quiet of our conversation was interrupted by loud braying.
There are two donkeys on the property that were making themselves known.
My friend immediately called her daughters to tie the donkeys in the yard.
This allowed them to graze a bit more.
It was wonderful to see them from the porch, content as they ate the grass around them.
I live in the country but this was even more country than I am accustomed.
My friend pointed to potted marigold plants that were on a table in front of us.
They were a gift given to each woman from her Bible study leader.
Each plant received fertilizer; however, one marigold plant was to be watered every day.
The other marigold plant was to be watered only weekly.
My friend told her Bible study leader that this directive would be hard for her.
My friend has a green thumb.
Caring for plants is second nature to her.
To neglect a plant and water it only weekly would be very difficult.
She did not understand the reason for the gift and the directive.
Giving the plants to each woman was one thing.
Telling her how to care for them in this unique way was another.
Finally, the Bible study leader revealed the reason for the gift and the directive.
Many people go to church on Sunday but the other six days of the week is their time.
They give no thought to God.
Reading the Bible, fellowship, and prayer are just Sunday things.
This type of person is the marigold that is to be watered only weekly.
Other people go to church on Sunday and through the week they read their Bible.
They feed on the bread of God’s Word.
They drink deeply of the Living Water which flows and is not stagnant.
This type of person is the marigold that is watered every day.
Mt friend’s Bible study leader gave each woman a gift that was an object lesson.
We can all guess what the marigold will look like that is only watered weekly.
Its leaves will wilt.
Its blooms will fade and fall.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1: 1-6)
We cannot be a Sunday only kind of person.
God does not have a clipboard that He uses to check off what we do.
God is not concerned about a legalistic have-to.
God desires a relationship with His children.
If we do not talk to family or friends, or spend time with them, our relationships will weaken.
If we do not work on our relationships, they will not flourish.
Relationships take time.
In order for relationships to be strong, we have to be intentional.
Our relationship with God is no different.
We need more than just an hour on Sunday.
Would we eat a meal on Sunday and then not eat for the rest of the week?
Would we take our deep breaths on Sunday and not breathe for the rest of the week?
We need daily watering in God’s Word.
We need to be fertilized with Truth.
We need the light of the Son to illuminate our path as we journey.
We need pruning that only God can do, to ensure that our growth is steady and strong.
I looked at those marigold plants in a different way.
I want to see what they look like as the summer progresses.
I think I can guess which plant will be flourishing.
It is no different with us.
Water daily in God’s Word.
Fertilize with His Truth.
Allow the Son to shine on you.
Accept God’s pruning.
Be amazed at the way you will grow in the Lord.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
Gina. I’m just reading this now and so amazed by your way with words, your kindness and your friendship. Thank you for it all. And above all that, thank you for being such an example of godliness to me. I am blessed to be your friend. My girls and I will need to stay in close touch with you over the years as we need to learn from you!
Love,
Jeannine
Jeanine, your words touched my heart! I am delighted that God saw fit to bring us together as friends! I look forward to more porch sitting times at your house or mine. I rejoice that we can glean from each other. Blessings and JOY, sweet friend!
Gina