Addy and the Flowers

Recently, my almost 3-year old granddaughter, Addy, was helping me plant flowers in my garden. What fun we had! I dug the hole, loosened the dirt in the bottom, and then she added compost to the hole. I mixed it and the loose dirt with the shovel and she helped with her hand shovel. Then she poured in some root starter solution and I put the plant in and and replaced the dirt around the plant. Then Addy would take her little plastic watering can and water the newly planted flower.

We repeated this process many times. After we had planted several flowers, I was watching her water with her little watering can. Then she stepped back and just stood there looking at the plant.

Nana: "What are you doing Addy?"
Addy: "Watching the flower grow!"
Nana: (smiling) "Oh!"
Addy: "Isn't it pretty?"

This scenario and conversation has really stuck with me for the last couple of weeks. I've been planting more flowers on my own and thinking about how Addy would "watch them grow". I know my Heavenly Father stands back and watches me "grow". I'm sure at times, the watching isn't all that interesting and surely must be imperceptable.

Things I've learned from Addy and the flowers:

* Look at things from a child's perspective--"I'm watching it grow."
* Appreciate things as they are--"Isn't it pretty?"
* Some things (and people) are worth of being watched even if it looks like nothing is happening.
* God watches us patiently.

"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the kingdom belongs to those who are like these children." Mark 10:14b