Faith is Like a Sunflower Seed

Last year a weed popped up in our yard and Kender adopted it. He watered it every day and took very good care of it. I figured it couldn't hurt, and we could just pull it once it was grown if it started to become bothersome (plus, I was curious to see what kind of weed it was - some are pretty!) Weeks went by, and Kender's weed grew bigger and bigger. When it finally started to blossom, we realized what it was.

It was not a weed at all in fact, but a beautiful (and huge) sunflower! It must have grown from the birdseed that had fallen from the deck above. It amazed me that Kender saw the beauty in that little plant from the beginning. I'm grateful that he chose to care for it.

Once this sunflower had run it's course, we harvested the seeds to see if they would grow. This year in our garden I planted those sunflower seeds in an extra bed we had. I wasn't expecting much since they were harvested from a flower that had grown from "junk" seed, but I kept watering them and watching over them just in case. To my amazement (and joy), the seeds began to grow!

I was thrilled at the idea of having a bed full of beautiful sunflowers, but a few days later all but one seedling had vanished (eaten by savage deer or bunnies, I assume). I planted more seeds in hopes of having that bed full of sunflowers.

I watered those seeds for months... Ok, it was actually about 10 days, but it felt like months. Then one day, I saw more seedlings!

This whole seemingly small experience reminded me that our testimonies are just like those little seeds. When we fail to protect our testimonies by doing little things like study our scriptures and converse with the Lord in prayer, they vanish just like the seedlings that were eaten by animals. But when we do all we can to nurture and protect our faith, it will grow.

So I'm going to take that as a reminder to water my testimony with scripture study, and let it bask in the sunshine of prayer. I want my testimony to grow as big and bright as Kender's sunflower, so that I can set a good example for he and Rhett and be my best self for them. This life is messy and hard, and none of us can do it alone. We need the comfort and guidance that comes from the Holy Ghost. I want that comfort and guidance in my life.

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. - Alma 32:28