Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop. (James. 5:7)
Expanded Passage: James 5:7-8
My favorite plant to enjoy around Christmas is the amaryllis. This tropical plant is sold at stores starting around the end of October. If you time your amaryllis just right and plant the bulb in the middle of November, you can enjoy enormous, bright red, pink, or white flowers during the week of Christmas. Most people will discard the plant after its brilliant display withers.
But these plants can bloom every year—if you know how to take care of them. After the flowers fade, trim them off and let the plant’s leaves grow until about August. At that point, stop watering it, put it in a basement or garage, and let it go dormant. In November, start watering it again, and it should bloom around Christmas. This process can be repeated practically indefinitely.
The biggest hurdles in getting new flowers from an old amaryllis bulb are patience, consistency, and forethought. For about ten months out of the year, the plant is either a stalk of stringy-looking leaves or a dry bulb. It’s easy to neglect a plant when it looks like that. Being patient and standing firm while waiting for the Lord can be difficult too, when we’re dealing with the everyday. But if we’re willing to stay consistent and patient through the mundane, we’ll be blown away by God’s valuable crop.
Be patient for God’s harvest, even through the mundane.
Stephen Simpson is a graduate of Wesley Seminary (IN). He has served at Wesleyan churches—in one form or another—since childhood.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
