I know you are just dying to know how the mums are doing, after they survived overwintering in the workshop … and barely escaped being eaten by the deer!
You might be thinking: “They are probably thriving and growing! I bet they are big & bushy by now! I bet they already have little blooms setting on.”
Well … they are thriving and growing. But they aren’t big & bushy yet. Nor do they have little blooms setting on yet. In fact, they don’t really look that much different from the last time I shared a photo.
Even though they basically look the same, there is a lot of “thriving and growth” happening underneath the dirt where we can’t see. They are hard at work developing a strong healthy root system!
They need a strong healthy root system to survive upcoming winters. They need a strong healthy root system to grow big & busy. They need a strong healthy root system to set on blooms.
The mums are indeed thriving and growing! We just can’t see it right now.
This exact same thing is also true when it comes to people. We look at people and without even realizing it we subconsciously have expectations of what “growth” in their life should look like.
We subconsciously expect certain character development to be happening in their life. And when we don’t see any evidence of character development occurring, we instinctively respond: “What!?? How can they be “growing”?? It sure doesn’t look like it.”
We subconsciously expect them to be overcoming weaknesses or unhealthy habits or sins in their life. And when we don’t see any evidence of “overcoming” going on, we instinctively think: “I guess there’s no ‘growth’ happening.”
But most of what God does in each of our lives happens “underneath the dirt” where nobody else can see. God works deep down at our soul level. Nobody can see that.
God changes us … deep down at the soul level (“underneath the dirt”). God grows us spiritually … deep down at the soul level (“underneath the dirt”). God matures us spiritually … deep down at the soul level (“underneath the dirt”).
God develops our “roots” deep down where nobody can see.
The big, bushy healthy growth is only a sign that a lot of “root work” has been going on in unseen places (in our soul – “underneath the dirt”).
Little blooms setting on is only a sign that a lot of “root work” has been going on in unseen places (in our soul – “underneath the dirt”).
Be patient with people. Even if it doesn’t seem like any “growth” is happening whatsoever.
A lot of “root work” just might be going on … deep down “underneath the dirt.”
