I saw a sign the other day that read "Everything that grows needs water." I thought, "That is certainly true!" Then I began thinking about my 'growing' children. Am I watering them? Am I giving them the right amount of water - love, life lessons, attention, affection, discipline? I thought about my 'growing' marriage as Samantha and I approach our ten year anniversary. Am I watering the marriage? Is it 'growing' emotionally and spiritually because of my time, care, and concern, or is it becoming parched and dried up from neglect? Then I thought about the people around me. Am I 'growing' the leaders around me? Do I spend the necessary time 'watering them?' Trying to get to know them better? Loving them? Showing them they are valued? Investing in them? Building their emotional bank account? Appreciating them?.....Nope, not yet.
God has a sense of humor. Two days ago, the morning that it rained, I spent 20 minutes watering and 'growing' four Hostas that I transplanted earlier this spring. That was 20 minutes of concentrated time that should have been spent 'growing' the people closest to me. I heard God's laughter in the thunder that day. But the lesson is this, if it takes 20 minutes a day to grow Hostas, I should really rethink how much focused and conscious effort it takes to grow people. And it is important that I 'grow' some of these people more than others. As a leader I must strategically decide this, for it is God's calling for me to use the skills he gave me for his glory. The Bible states: “So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15, 16.
Brent Compton, a well respected business man and basketball expert in Indiana, gave me some great advice. He added to a popular phrase and stated, "Grass is greenest where we water it the most." I encourage you to water, grow, the people you serve. If you don't they will perish just like most of the plants I've tried to grow in my house.
For those of you who wonder how you will fill up your own watering can....John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Give someone a drink of thirst quenching water today. Make them SHINE!!
