I selected a number of new shrubs for the garden and then searched the large
nursery for a Pineapple Sage.
There was just one plant left. And what a miserable specimen it was! It was old,
overgrown for the small pot, wilted, brown and good as dead. It challenged my
green thumb though I doubted it would even survive the journey home with me.
"I must have a burning desire for failure," I sighed silently, wrapped it in
compassion and tucked it into my shopping basket.
I took it to the counter and the salesman totalled up all of my purchases. He
came at last to the Pineapple Sage, picked it up – hand on the keyboard to key
the price in – then paused. He turned it around a couple of times, grimaced and
looked embarrassed.
Then he smiled at me. "If you think you can get it to grow, you can have it for
free," he said. "Are you up to the challenge?"
"Bring it on!" I smiled back at him.
Today I have multiple clumps of Pineapple Sage around the garden grown from one
nearly-dead plant. They provide nectar for a number of nectar-eating birds that
come to our garden for them. That which was nearly dead provides food for the
hungry!
More importantly, they remind me I was once like the dying pot of Sage. I was so
wilted and miserable I turned myself over to God – for free - and his green
thumb must have been severely challenged.
He took me up ‘because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made
us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace
you have been saved.’ Ephesians 2:4,5.
So do you honestly think you can avoid challenging God?
Elizabeth Price, Team writer with Just a Minute
reprice@dragnet.com.au
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