THE MAGNIFICENT ELEPHANT EAR

PRACTICE: Write a note of thanks to those who see your potential and help it to become reality.

About 6 weeks into the pandemic, we experienced a high fever – cabin fever. Our remedy, a two-hour field trip, to a garden nursery in another city. We packed snacks for a ten- hour trip not wanting to stop anywhere between point A to B and back to A.

The prized purchase was two very large bulbs-elephant ears. The sheer size of the bulbs promised a huge plant. We planned a planting experience with the two little neighbor girls.

With the young ladies’ help, the bulbs were planted in two different locations in the yard. And the waiting and watching began. For the first couple of weeks, the girls regularly looked for a sign that something was happening. Then their interest waned. I regularly looked. My interest didn’t wane, but I began to question my husband’s planting skills. I thought the bulbs had rotted. My husband assured all of us, that we would get the plants that we expected – that things were happening underground that we could not see. In due time, he was proven correct – one shoot pushed through and then another- eventually providing amazing focal points to our yard. We planted, we got what we expected, and each flourished where it was planted…The same type bulb but two unique plants. Had we purchased the bulbs and not planted and watered them, we would have received none of their beauty.

There is mighty potential(bulb) inside all of us. Sometimes an outside source is needed to bring it to our attention(planting). Even though, we and others may know our potential, the interest of both can wane when things don’t happen as quickly as we would like. But if we are blessed, there is the one or two that see our potential and continue to nurture, encourage and wait with us to sprout. They are faithfully committed to seeing us reach our full potential.

The parable of the elephant ear reminds me to be who I am intended to be (self-discovery may be required). The parable reminds me to question my role to self and others - Am I the one who plants? Am I one who loses interest walks away when things don’t happen on my required timeline? Am I one who faithfully stays the course when I cannot see progress but confident that one day potential/talent will flourish? What are your thoughts?

1Cor. 12:7

PONDER THIS THOUGHT—I have potential/talents waiting to sprout.