JUST ONE SEED


Positive reinforcement is just one awesome seed we can all sow into anybody's life. True, the young are impressionable, but the older we get the more we tend to appreciate or value this seed more. I cannot tell you when the first time someone spoke an encouraging word to me, but I can tell you how it made me feel - great. I can't tell you where and who the first instance of someone saying, "Now that's a good idea Chad, thanks for sharing." - was, but I can tell you the influence it has had on my life - like continuing to share.

For the people who "water" the positive reinforcement in our lives - I say thank you. To God who nourishes and appropriately directs that positive reinforcement in my life, so that I do not get a big ego - I say, Praise You Lord. However, if it was not for the Sower to begin with, there would be no need to water or nourish. If there is no seed of any sort in anyone's life, there is no purpose for the waterer, you are just getting wet at this point.  One would not think this way according to how Paul worded the passage I am referring to in 1 Corinthians. He said,

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service;" (1 Cor. 3:5-9)

Paul stated right in the middle - "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything..." - I disagree. And how can we not be anything and also receive a reward according to our own labor? I understand Christians should not exalt their position over another's. However, if The Planter, The Water-er and The Nourisher (God) does not do his task - the Seed goes dormant, dies or does not even get planted. I think a healthy respect for each position is required to be effective while withholding possible prideful uprisings.

All this to say how much I appreciate The Sower of good seeds in my life. For this person there are many types of kindness to pick from in order to influence someone's life for the good and that must be a great joy. I believe we all can function at different times in life as The Sower or The Water-er. However, as I recall today, Positive Reinforcement is one way we can act as The Sower and plant Just One Seed.

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