I have longed to have my own veggie garden at home. Ever since the all-natural/organic bug bit me, I wanted to grow my own herbs and vegetables.  Living in an apartment prevented me from developing my green thumb. But when my family moved to our temporary home two weeks ago, which has a big green area, I was all set to do the dirty work, literally!

I got seeds from the supermarket and asked the kids to help me plant them. I didn’t get the regular pots yet because I wanted to check if the  herbs would thrive.  So my husband suggested to use paper cups first then eventually transfer to a bigger pot when they start to germinate.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed here! If my initial step to growing my own herbs and veggies would be successful, who knows what else this garden would grow! When we moved in, I saw a papaya plant and cantaloupe plant in the backyard! We can’t wait.

After all these sowing, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable about the 4 kinds of soil in Matthew 13.  Each soil represents the person’s heart while the seed represents the word of God or the gospel. God’s truth may or may not impact a person’s life depending on the condition of the heart. As the soil was described in the parable being dry, rocky, thorny or fertile, so is the condition of our hearts. The good seed will only grow and thrive if it’s planted on good soil. My heart was once dry, rocky and full of thorns but as I grew to know my God, I believe that it is now fertile and bearing much fruit. But then again, whatever fruit or growth I may be having, it’s all because of the unmerited favor of God in my life…only by his grace alone!

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23