For May, Jordan and I have decided to focus on The Parable of the Sower from Luke 8 for our family devo time. We have these really cute little picture cards (as I posted earlier here) we got through our current homeschool curriculum, Mother Goose Time, as well as some fun activity suggestions that go along with the lessons.
A couple days after we started, I realized I wanted more of a visual to help the kids understand the importance of being planted in good soil, and how that will affect growth. Being completely clueless as to where to start, I scoured Pinterest, asked for suggestions on Facebook, and honestly didn’t come up with much that I felt was feasible for us (and my lack of a green thumb).
Well, it just so happens, as God often works in my life, He has already given me what I needed before I even thought about this idea (which was really His in the first place…I just thought it was mine. Thank you, Holy Spirit inspiration).
You see, on Day 1 of our Growing Gardens study, the kids and I planted grass seeds in 3 little containers.
(Day 1: Natalie’s was on the far left, and then Peter’s, and then mine)
Natalie had decided she wanted to cover hers with soil, to make sure the seeds were buried, and that it was really planted. For Peter, I let him just scatter the seeds on top of the little soil container. And we ended up having some seeds leftover, so I pulled out a third container (much more shallow than the other two) and just put whatever soil and seed was left over. The idea was to watch over the next few days and weeks, and to record any changes they identified.
It wasn’t until Day 5, when we noticed that Nat’s container had a few little grass sprouts coming up, that I realized that we already had our visual aid.
I’m explaining to Natalie that her seeds, unlike the other two, were actually planted. They were in the ideal environment for the little seedlings to grow, in good soil. And as we looked at the other two containers, there were no signs of life.
(Day 5:Peter’s scattering of seeds, no sprouts)
Well, as it would happen, as we continued to check on our little plants each day, on Day 8 we found that Peter’s container had started to sprout.
(Day 8: Growth!)
But, as you can see, it is yielding a lot less sprouts than Natalie’s. So we talked about how his, like the seeds tossed in the rocky soil, they were able to sprout up quickly, too, but don’t have as much opportunity to put down roots to get the water and nutrients they need. They were obviously not flourishing like Natalie’s plant.
We then went on to talk about how a few, that had sunk down into the soil, were trying to grow, but the rest were still just laying on the top. And we talked about how if the cups were outside, we could imagine birds possibly wanting to come and nibble on the exposed seeds (like those thrown along the path).
(And for me, the Holy Spirit took it even further, speaking to me about how Peter’s plant had sprouted. Yes, there was life, and it may even appear that it’s going to do well after all, that it just got a slow start. But if I were to take those plants outside, in more direct sunlight, it would be apparent pretty soon that it doesn’t have what it needs to sustain the growth. In the same ways, in the seasons where I choose to not intentionally set aside time to be with the Lord, to get into His Word and spend time in prayer – where it’s just a little here or there, whenever I can squeeze it in, and not a priority – I can be easily deceived that that is all I need. But when the ‘heat’ comes, it’s apparently pretty quickly the condition of my heart and how much I need to rely on the Lord each and every day for life and breath, because He is the One that sustains me and allows me to not only survive, but thrive.)
And lastly, my little ole container, well, it didn’t bear anything. (Day 8: My plant, like the seeds scattered along the path)
The seeds were still laying on top of the soil, with no opportunity for growth or progress.
The whole thing has been such a great picture of some very true principles laid out in scripture, and I love that each morning she asks to see her grass sprouts, and surveys the differences between the plants.
(Day 11: A great picture of the difference in amount of growth and flourishing)
(Fun addition by Natalie that I found here on Pinterest)
As an official Mother Goose Time Blog Ambassador,
I receive curriculum in exchange for posting about our honest and authentic experiences with the curriculum.
Parable of the Sower
JennyFor May, Jordan and I have decided to focus on The Parable of the Sower from Luke 8 for our family devo time. We have these really cute little picture cards (as I posted earlier here) we got through our current homeschool curriculum, Mother Goose Time, as well as some fun activity suggestions that go along with the lessons.
A couple days after we started, I realized I wanted more of a visual to help the kids understand the importance of being planted in good soil, and how that will affect growth. Being completely clueless as to where to start, I scoured Pinterest, asked for suggestions on Facebook, and honestly didn’t come up with much that I felt was feasible for us (and my lack of a green thumb).
Well, it just so happens, as God often works in my life, He has already given me what I needed before I even thought about this idea (which was really His in the first place…I just thought it was mine. Thank you, Holy Spirit inspiration).
You see, on Day 1 of our Growing Gardens study, the kids and I planted grass seeds in 3 little containers.
Natalie had decided she wanted to cover hers with soil, to make sure the seeds were buried, and that it was really planted. For Peter, I let him just scatter the seeds on top of the little soil container. And we ended up having some seeds leftover, so I pulled out a third container (much more shallow than the other two) and just put whatever soil and seed was left over. The idea was to watch over the next few days and weeks, and to record any changes they identified.
It wasn’t until Day 5, when we noticed that Nat’s container had a few little grass sprouts coming up, that I realized that we already had our visual aid.
I’m explaining to Natalie that her seeds, unlike the other two, were actually planted. They were in the ideal environment for the little seedlings to grow, in good soil. And as we looked at the other two containers, there were no signs of life.
Well, as it would happen, as we continued to check on our little plants each day, on Day 8 we found that Peter’s container had started to sprout.
But, as you can see, it is yielding a lot less sprouts than Natalie’s. So we talked about how his, like the seeds tossed in the rocky soil, they were able to sprout up quickly, too, but don’t have as much opportunity to put down roots to get the water and nutrients they need. They were obviously not flourishing like Natalie’s plant.
We then went on to talk about how a few, that had sunk down into the soil, were trying to grow, but the rest were still just laying on the top. And we talked about how if the cups were outside, we could imagine birds possibly wanting to come and nibble on the exposed seeds (like those thrown along the path).
(And for me, the Holy Spirit took it even further, speaking to me about how Peter’s plant had sprouted. Yes, there was life, and it may even appear that it’s going to do well after all, that it just got a slow start. But if I were to take those plants outside, in more direct sunlight, it would be apparent pretty soon that it doesn’t have what it needs to sustain the growth. In the same ways, in the seasons where I choose to not intentionally set aside time to be with the Lord, to get into His Word and spend time in prayer – where it’s just a little here or there, whenever I can squeeze it in, and not a priority – I can be easily deceived that that is all I need. But when the ‘heat’ comes, it’s apparently pretty quickly the condition of my heart and how much I need to rely on the Lord each and every day for life and breath, because He is the One that sustains me and allows me to not only survive, but thrive.)
And lastly, my little ole container, well, it didn’t bear anything.
(Day 8: My plant, like the seeds scattered along the path)
The seeds were still laying on top of the soil, with no opportunity for growth or progress.
The whole thing has been such a great picture of some very true principles laid out in scripture, and I love that each morning she asks to see her grass sprouts, and surveys the differences between the plants.
I receive curriculum in exchange for posting about our honest and authentic experiences with the curriculum.