My Precious Mango Seed
My Precious Mango Seed.
When I was around 7 years old, I learned for the first time the wonders of agriculture. The teacher clearly explained that it was necessary for a seed planted on the ground to birth a tree and, in time, to enjoy its precious fruits.
I decided to try it! Just at that moment, I was finishing eating a delicious mango… and what a colossal seed I had in my hand! Immediately I proceeded. I used some wood stickers that were around to dig a hole, and with infinite care and high hopes, I deposited my mango seed. Then, I covered it with mud and placed some sticks around it so I would recognize where I had planted it.
For the next week, I visited my mango seed every day. I watered the area and, with typical childish impatience, I sat down. I looked carefully all around, waiting for some sign of life springing out of it. Unfortunately, there was no outward evidence of what was going on. Finally, I decided I could not wait any longer: I took again some sticks, this time to uncover my seed… and what a wonderful sight I saw when finally I got to it: just on top of the seed, a beautiful, strong little plant was growing!
Foolishly enough, I proceeded to cover it again, not understanding that by giving the plant air and sun before it was ready, I had just killed it. My plant never sprang up because of my impatience.
Working with children is very similar to the farmer’s work. Those who work with children plant seeds in little hearts. These seeds are precious – love, the Word of God, teaching, advice, prayer…yet… just like my mango seed, the results on children’s lives can go unseen for a long time. Discouragement and impatience can even tempt us to stop investing altogether.
When I was five years old, my grandmother gave me an illustrated Bible. It was reading that Bible that I discovered the God I didn’t know. It was in that Bible that I read for the first time the wonderful stories about our origins. And, Because of what I read, unknown to the whole world but heard by God, I prayed: “God, I want that the God of Moses become my God”.
I never told anyone about my prayer, and I had to wait 12 years more to hear the Gospel clearly explained. A gift given to a child changed that child’s life forever. That tiny seed produced fruit; today, many have listened to the Gospel on two continents. The seed did bring fruit, but it took time.
So, let’s keep waiting and sowing abundantly. Get encouraged and trust the One who is more than able to keep that tiny seed alive. You will see the fruit if you don’t lose heart.
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.”
James 5:7