I was excited to see that the sun was shining these past few days.  Not only because it meant having the option of taking my girls out to play at a playground for at least a short while everyday (now that they are on spring break), but especially because I just had my backyard covered in soil (mushroom manure–I think that’s what my lawn care provider said?) and grass seed, which I am eagerly awaiting to grow.

I figured, okay, so I went through the trouble of having my lawn covered in soil (to provide an ideal “loose” and nutrient-rich surface for the grass seed), and we’ve had the projected rain over the weekend to provide the necessary “moisture.”  And following all that, the sun actually came out pretty much everyday this week.

I thought for sure my chances of having a supernaturally extra fast green lawn by the end of this week was actually higher than normally likely….

It appears that some growth action has been occuring, but on closer examination, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with my newly scattered grass seed.  The soil, rain and sunlight have been enough to coax my old grass to grow up and out of the dirt that was thrown on top of it, and is looking much healthier and greener than before.  The seed, however, seems to still be sitting there looking about the same as it did the first day it was laid out.

I pondered why this could be, and felt God impressing on my heart that the growth of new seeds requires the sun not only for light, but even more so in these early stages of growth, for heat and warmth.

I proceeded to conduct a quick Google search on what grass seeds need to grow, and I came across this site which I found helpful: The Garden Counselor: Lawn Care, which listed the following as necessary “ingredients” (order re-arranged):

(1) Moisture
Adequate moisture must be present throughout the process. Too little and the seed can dry out. Too much moisture and the seed can rot. Read the article Watering New Grass Seed for guidelines.

(2) Oxygen
When the sprout breaks through the seed, it requires oxygen for its growth process. When soil is over saturated with water, oxygen is not present and the sprout cannot grow. Compacted soil can also contribute to this problem.

And then these two ingredients from the Sun:

(3) Light
A seed has limited resources to support growth while below ground. The sprout must break through the surface in order for the photosynthesis process to function and create food for the plant. Sprouts will not be able to reach the surface if seeds are buried too deep.

and

(4) Warmth
Soil temperatures should be in the appropriate range for the variety of grass. Cool season grass requires a minimum range of 45 – 55 degrees. Warm season grass requires a minimum 55- 65 degrees. Note that soil temperatures are usually cooler than air temperature. In addition to the density of the ground that is slower to warm up, moisture evaporating from the surface has a cooling effect.

I verified with the weather forecast that today was the first of our sunny days to even have a chance of possibly being warm enough for ideal conditions, and even then it was only for maybe an hour or so.

The week ahead looks a bit more promising, but I’m realizing now that I really should prepare myself–and the kids–to be more patient and adjust our expectations of when the lawn will be ready to go. (I therefore moved the trampoline over to the edge of the lawn today so that in the meantime my kids can climb in and jump without walking through the yard.)

I pondered some more, and felt God impressing on my heart that the growth of new seeds in our hearts similarly require Jesus (and other people in our lives) not only for light, but even more so in the early stages of growth, for heat and warmth.

Grass seed growth is similar to what it is like for us as people, when we are needing to grow in something new, especially something that is particularly challenging whether to our bodies, minds hearts and/or souls.  When this is the case, we need not only “light” of knowledge and truth to show us the way, but we also need the “warmth” of love (and the peace,h ope and joy that go with it) to empower growth.

“Light” that enables us to see clearly where we would otherwise be in the dark is important and necessary — but in a new venture where the emotions of fear and uncertainty and reluctance are understandable and even expected, having knowledge of what we need to do or change or grow is simply not enough.

Unless we have the necessary conditions of easing the fear and anxiety, the hesitation or even paralysis first, knowledge will get us no where, except perhaps a keener awareness of our limitations as human beings (which could counter-productively lead to potential frustration, shame or despair).

Personally, this is where I understand God’s perfect, unconditional love for us steps in.

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)

 

“No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

 

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:20-23)

Having a relationship with God is no longer just a matter of having “truth” to learn, knowledge on how to live life to gain, and the right set of rules to follow to live a good life and/or get into Heaven.

Having a relationship with God first and foremost is about being reconciled to God Himself, understanding (and experiencing) just how much He loves us, that He loves us so much that He doesn’t need to and won’t wait for us to get our act together before He accepts us, but instead He loves us so much even while we are powerless and weak, He accepts us, loves us and reaches out to us, to be there for us…(see Romans 5:6-11)

There are certain deep, core parts of us as human beings, areas where each of us struggle when left on our own, for where it is only when we are in His love that we are empowered to grow up and out and become all that He created us to be.  Without experiencing and basking in the warmth of God’s perfect love for us, in such things we cannot ever really truly begin…

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PHOTO – What my lawn looked like on Wednesday (old grass is growing and poking out through the new soil layer):