Article February 6, 2012 Issue

Watch your garden grow

By Kristen Hafford

The other day, my toddler picked up the children’s story The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, and handed it to me to read to him. Many of you may recall reading it as a child, or reading it to your child, but here’s a brief synopsis for those who are unfamiliar with the story:

A little boy plants a carrot seed. His mother, father, and big brother, each in turn, say to the little boy, “It won’t come up.” Each day the little boy pulls out the weeds and waters the ground. Then he waits and waits, but nothing appears, and everyone keeps telling him that it won’t. Undeterred, the little boy keeps tending the earth around the seed. And here’s the closing sentence of the book: “And then, one day, a carrot came up just as the little boy had known it would.”

I’ve read this story many times, but it touched my heart this day in a way it hadn’t before. I immediately recognized it as a metaphor for healing. Divine Love plants the seed of goodness in our heart. But when we have a problem, discouraging thoughts can come along that say: “Good things won’t come up.” “Nothing can help you.” “You’re destined for trouble and disappointment.” “There is no solution.” The Apostle Paul in the Bible calls this the “carnal mind” and says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). Just like the little boy in the book, we have a choice. We can listen to negative suggestions and abandon caring for our seeds of spiritual intuitions, or we can reject the carnal mind’s whisperings and listen to God’s directions. God always encourages us to stand our ground with His truth. 

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Brotherly love in Brazil