Seedlings

I tried something new this spring. 
I tried growing my pepper and tomato plants from seed.
I had tried this once before, but without success, so I planted these seeds in the dirt hesitantly, not wanting 
  to hope too much.
After watering them, I set them out of the light, in the warmest place I could think of, on top of the   
  refrigerator.
After a week, I took a peek.
To my surprise, tiny green stems had appeared.
I watered then again and left them there for a few more days, and when they were slightly taller I brought 
  them down to the light by the window.
And they kept kept growing.
My hope was growing now as I watched these tiny, tiny seedlings stretch toward the light.
As they got taller, I began to pay attention to each indivual plant, transplanting them each to a larger pot
  and propping up their tender stems on sticks to keep them straight.
My little seedlings began to delight me as I watched them grow.
They started receiving extra attention from me as I would watch over them, taking them out to the sunshine  
  on warm days and bringing them in when it got cool.
I am enjoying watching their progress of growth, each stage is fascinating.

The Father plants us in this soil of life, with much anticipation and expectation.
He is not a hesitant gardener as I was.
He know the plans and purposes He has for us. 
He knows what is in the seed.
Patiently He waits...
And when we discover His love, we sprout and begin the process of growth.
So tenderly and eagerly our Gardener watches over each one of us individually.
He has everything we need to grow, to flourish, to prosper.
He does not leave us to ourselves and demand that we make it in our own strength.
No, He sees each need, propping us up if we are drooping, preparing and fertilizing the soil, pruning at
  times when needed.
He takes such delight in the process...
Such delight in each plant, watching with expectation for the fruit.
He is not worried about failure, or discouraged with the slow ones...
No, He gently continues to nourish us in His love...with His smile always upon us...
His delight is from the beginning to the end.

But unlike my tomato plants that will grow, bear fruit and die...
Each of His plants have the opportunity to just continue and continue to grow more and more
  in His fullness, bearing more and more fruit, until they meet their Gardener face to face, where they will 
  continue to grow in their love for Him!