Small signs of life
It may not seem like much, but those few green leaves are the signs of life I've been looking for. Even in the midst of this extreme heat, things are still growing. I transferred this tree from another place to the spot I wanted it, right in the worst part of summer. But I faithfully watered it and kept an eye on it, and now it seems like the work is paying off.
Sometimes this small sign of life is all you see. Of course I wish it grew a couple of feet, but that's not the way it works. That growth will come in due time. But the small signs of green, even towards the end of summer, are a sign that there is life inside these tiny branches.
When it comes to dealing with people, of course we would love to see extreme growth all of the time. And there are seasons when that happens. Even in our own lives, we don't always grow and mature the way we want. But if we faithfully water our hearts with the word of God and other spiritual disciplines, then we will see that growth in due time. In the meantime, we can look for the small signs where we can see them.
We might wish that our hearts, or someone else's, would show signs of extreme growth overnight. God in his mercy gives us these little promises that more growth is coming. If we continue to tend and care for our souls, the growth and maturity will come in due time. Rejoice in the growth you see, and work and pray for God to give you more.
