Growing Together

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”Matthew 13:24-30

I have been thinking a lot in the past few days about motherhood, and how quickly my children have grown. With our youngest graduating from college, I wonder whether I equipped them with everything they need. Phoebe will be starting a new life in Boston next week and I hope she had all that she needs within her to thrive. A parent plants, gives the best that they know how. And yet, we are human, and have seeded some negativity inadvertently, and fostered some anger and self-doubt unintentionally. Being a parent, is never being perfect and reminded all the time that more could have been done. And life is never sweeter when we see them smile, and accomplish great things.

Jesus told stories to the disciples because they always wanted clear rules and their teacher knew that life was more complicated than that. Loving others and growing good relationships and compassionate, just and faithful people is an impossible task. Weeds and missteps surround us. We are broken and human and the good grows right along side the bad. And yet we need not worry because God is in charge and the bad will be rooted out in the end.

Today, as I travel to Tennessee for what could be a very historic meeting, I want to remember that in every human effort, every human field there will be good and evil growing side by side. And I want to trust God to be the one who makes the final determination, and I am there to offer my best, learning and growing along with others. May God grant us the strength, no matter what our endeavor today, to leave off the judgment and work hard at growing good and strong for the love of God.