Do You Know What's In That?

Leonard Sweet tweeted this a few hours ago: "The soul is organic. It needs fertilizer to grow. What/Who will fertilize your faith today?"

That caught my eye ... made me think. I found my nose and lip kind of snarling up at the corners as I thought about growing up on the farm and just exactly what "fertilizer" can smell like at times. Ugh.

Thank you, Leonard Sweet, I have fertilizer on my mind this morning.

There were different kinds of fertilizer. Dad taught me that different soil needed different fertilizer to feed it and repair it. We had natural fertilizer -- otherwise referred to by me as "cow poo." We had a lot of cow poo because we had lots of cattle. You never ever wore nice clothes or shoes in to the barn where the cows were. It was inevitable you might have a close encounter with cow poo. It can be quite pungent.

But Dad also bought fertilizer because he sometimes used a mixture of our cow poo with it in the flower beds. Oh my goodness, I've gone and claimed ownership on cow poo. I really need caffeine. But I digress. He let me smell that other fertilizer one time. I did not like it. It burned my nose. Believe it or not, I will take cow poo any day over whatever that stingy stuff was.

The combination did its job because the flower beds were spectacular. We used to say that the farm was a "mini Biltmore Estate". The expanse of grass that had to be mowed was mowed regularly and meticulously. The flowers beds were weed free.

The beauty came out of great care and that care included cow poo.

I do not think that is quite the idea Leonard Sweet had when he wrote that. I think perhaps he is honing in on the positive aspects of fertilizer and how much it is needed to help something grow and mature. That sounds far more dignified than my rambling on about cow poo. But he is the expert in communication -- not me.

Then again, is he asking me to consider the negative aspects of fertilizer?
Is it possible I can look to the wrong thing or wrong person to influence (fertilize) me and then have to live with the consequences?
Yep. This could be.

I certainly have let myself be influenced in negative ways. I prefer not to re-live those days.

So Who will fertilize me -- nourish me, nurture me, stimulate growth in me today?

Oh God, let me look to You as my source of love and grace this day. When others look at me please, Oh God, please let them see You in me. When words come from my mouth may they be seasoned in your spirit of compassion. Grow a new thing in me, that my soul might continue to grow and hunger and thirst for nothing, for no one -- but You. And may I know a heart overflowing with gratitude when I realize Your great generosity in answering that prayer. Amen.

Enjoying the Journey,
Debra

bebprov356.blogspot.com

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6 --

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