Growth Takes Time

GROWTH IS RARELY AN ACCIDENT, GROWTH HAS A PLAN…

GROWTH REQUIRES EFFORT… THE MORE EFFORT THE MORE THE GROWTH WILL THRIVE…

Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall get exactly what he expected.

Les Brown tells a wonderful illustration that we need to consider…

There is a tree that grows in the FAR EAST. The tree grows from a SEED that is planted. The tree requires great effort.

If you plant the seed today you will see nothing tomorrow, the next day… a week later NOTHING!

This CHINESE BAMBOO SEED HAS TO BE PLANTED IN GOOD SOIL. You have to water this seed every day. You most work the soil around the seed often and keep the soil broken and loose. You must often fertilize and work the soil. Every day you must water this fragile seed. Daily the seed needs the farmers’ attention. Daily. To miss a day might kill the seed. Water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, water it, and look: YOU WILL SEE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

DAILY FOR FIVE YEARS AND NOTHING… NOTHING… IN 5 YEARS THE SEED THAT REQUIRED DAILY ATTENTION WILL FINALLY BREAK THROUGH THE RICH SOIL. FINALLY? 5 LONG YEARS AND WE SEE LIFE. ONCE THE CHINESE BAMBOO TREE BREAKS THROUGH THE GROUND, IN 5 WEEKS THE CHINESE BAMBOO TREE WILL GROW 90 FEET TALL. 90 FEET IN 5 WEEKS?

DOES THE BAMBOO TREE GROW 90 FEET IN 5 WEEKS? LET’S BE REAL, AFTER 5 WEEKS OF PLANTING THE TREE YOU SEE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING? DOES IT GROW 90 FEET IN FIVE WEEKS, OR IS IT 5 YEARS AND 5 WEEKS? If you stop watering the seed in the 5 years it will die almost immediately. The Bamboo seed requires constant attention.

HEY BUDDY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I CAN’T SEE ANY FRUIT OF YOUR LABORS? 5 years of nothing…

The neighbor comes over, and says: YOU LOOK PRETTY STUPID OUT HERE? I watch you work and work, and there is nothing? His neighbor laughs and says: I HEARD YOU ARE GROWING TREES? EVEN A BLIND IDIOT CAN SEE ALL YOUR WORK AND THERE ARE NO TREES! How long are you going to keep watering those “trees?” Give it up! I can’t see it my friend, give up and grow some rice and feed your family?

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.