Today, I am thinking about seeds.

Seems appropriate on the first day of summer, but I am not referring to plant seeds.

I just finished watching the memorial video of a dear friend who passed away at 82. Last week, another friend’s son was suddenly taken at age 50. Another friend is battling a disease that is slowly taking his life. Still another is growing weak after a lifetime of service.

Seeds. What does this have to do with seeds?

As I watched the video, I noticed the seeds planted by my friend throughout his long life. Seeds of service to his family and community. Seeds of love. Seeds of faith. Seeds of friendship. Seeds of laughter. He was quick-witted and always had a comeback. I saw the fruit from these seeds in the growing families of his sons and in the legacy of his life.

My friend’s son spent his life planting seeds by mentoring others, offering help, investing in the future for both here and eternity. He planted seeds of joy in those around him that impacted lives and grew into people of faith and service.

My other friends, though far removed from each other, share the commonality of faith that they have consistently planted in the people they have encountered through life. When you think of them, you think of their Lord. You think of their joy. You think of their humility and their heart for others that continues to reach out, even in sickness. You think of their steadfastness.

I am blessed to know and have known these gentlemen. The seeds from their lives continue and will continue to bear fruit in the days and years ahead.

Their lives have impacted mine, and I want to be sowing seeds, too.

Seeds of –

• Love
• Joy
• Faith
• Steadfastness
• Service
• Grace
• Humility
• Kindness
• Help

Those seeds sound a little like the fruit of the Spirit of God, and I realize that this is the biggest connection between my friends – the God they love and follow.

They would tell you that He made all the difference in their lives.

He is still making the difference in lives committed to Him today.

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 5:22 – 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.