Life Lessons From A Plant Mama

I am a proud plant mama in addition to being a mother of four active children. I inherited my love for plants from my grandparents who had a lovely urban garden along with other exotic plants on their front porch. I have my own array of plants aligned on my porch that are often complimented on their beauty. I’ve learned a few life lessons from my plant babies that I hold dear in applying with my walk with God, my role as a mother, and my interactions with others.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15 :1-5

Here are a few life lessons from this plant mama :

• Trust the shedding and pruning process of life: If you have the slightest knowledge of plants and flowers you’ll know that in addition to water and proper nutrients that plants go through shedding along with needing the occasional pruning to flourish. The same shedding and pruning process can be applied to life in seasons. We will encounter seasons in our lives where we will have to take the courage to remove what we know deep down isn’t beneficial, purposeful, and what may actually be doing us more harm than good in pruning. There will also be seasons where as we evolve in growing we’ll experience a shedding process where what needed to be removed will depart from us itself.

• Speak kindly to your plants and they will grow. My plant babies are like family. They each have a name and a personality to me that I utilize in watering them with my twin daughters in cultivating in them a love for plant life. We agree that it seems when we sing a little song or say something positive to them that they seem to stand a bit taller. The words we say to our children can build them up with confidence, assurance, competency, or our words can tear them down. The words we speak to anyone has the power to give life or the power to destroy. What we speak mirrors the inner being of our true character. I am a stickler that we should do our best to T.H.I.N.K. before we speak a word from our mouths in consideration if they are true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind.

• Give your plants the best nutrients : Plants grow their best with the opportunity to live for generations when given the best nutrients to grow. We too can apply that to life in ensuring that our minds and bodies are getting the proper nutrients to sustain. The bible speaks that our bodies are temples therefore we are to be mindful that we are receiving in nutrients what we need in water, a healthy diet, exercise, studying of the Lord’s word, adopting prayer life, and being aware of worldly influences.
• Bloom where you’re planted : I’ve seen some plants grow in some pretty weird places that most wouldn’t think could grow. I’ve seen flowers bloom in the bleakest of places. I tell my children and my students that it’s not where you’re from, but where you’re going. My brother and I didn’t have the best childhood growing up, and we saw occasionally some negative influences growing up in the inner city. My brother had sports and I had fine arts to keep us focused in staying out of trouble. We both bloomed despite our environment later both receiving scholarships for college to be the first college graduates of our family. There are times where we must fight flight in trusting God’s plan in blooming where we are planted.
• Know when you’ve outgrown the pot : I have two Golden Pathos that were tiny at first. They each came in small pots to accommodate their sizes. They’ve grown to have tvines over 4 feet now. They have totally outgrown their original pots, and therefore I will have to move them to bigger pots to match their maturity. We can again apply this plant theology to life. Be in tune with discernment in knowing when you’ve matured and outgrown your pot. Don’t be afraid of change, challenges, or stay stagnated to move on to greater things that match your new season to thrive.