South Africa

Sowing Seeds: On the Farm, in the Sewing Room, and in the Spirit

Sowing seeds takes many forms. Whether it’s planting physical seeds on the farm, sewing thread in a sewing room, or sowing spiritual seeds in the hearts of others, the common denominator is often that we won’t see the immediate fruits of our labor. But that’s precisely the point.

In Isaiah 55, it says “The rain and snow come down for the Heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”.

This reminds us that the impact of our efforts is not always visible to us but always does the will of God. We won’t see the green bean plants sprout immediately after planting. In the sewing room, we might not see the final product, be it a lamb, a rhino, a giraffe, or an elephant, after cutting out the individual pieces. Spiritually, we won’t always witness the immediate effects of our daily devotions or see the full extent of how a community is being stitched together in Christ once we’re gone.

Our mission is to plant the seeds and bring the thread, trusting that God will water those seeds and sew everything together.

This act of faith is central to everyone’s calling, not just ours. It’s an invitation to trust in the unseen and to believe in the power of incremental acts of love and kindness.

On the farm, planting seeds is a labor of hope. Farmers place seeds in the soil, nurturing them with water and care, but ultimately trusting the natural processes to bring forth the harvest. Similarly, when we engage in creative endeavors like sewing, each stitch is a small, meticulous act of creation that contributes to a larger, unseen whole.

Spiritually, our daily acts of devotion, kindness, and community-building are like planting seeds in the hearts of others. We may not see the immediate results, but each act contributes to the tapestry of God’s work in the world. Our role is to be faithful in our actions and to trust that God will bring about the growth and the harvest.

I encourage you to go out into your community and plant seeds, bring thread, and trust in the transformative power of these small acts. Watch as our Father sews an amazing quilt from our collective efforts. It’s a beautiful reminder that while we may not always see the fruits of our labor, we can trust that our contributions are part of a much larger, divine design.

Love you,

Caroline