Seeds From A Forgotten Past

Seeds from a forgotten past are often totally forgotten. We scratch our heads and accept the loss. Those seeds rarely make their presence known and are, in most minds, a fruit given up as lost. I rarely present guest authors on my website. But a wise, garden-gal friend shared her journal entry with me the other morning that I was profoundly impacted by. I immediately felt like I needed to share her seeds from a forgotten past story. It can be interpreted in many different ways. Whatever way you choose to interpret the meaning of her shared poignant journal entry, I know that you will find a connection to seeds forgotten from your past in one way or another. So, grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit back, and enjoy this lovely shared story by Tammy Landers.

Tammy’s Journal Entry

“I was checking on my plants, getting ready for their adult life in my garage nursery. Maybe because I recycle my soil or get it from the chicken’s run, I was delighted by the appearance of volunteer tomato plants in the pots with my fig cuttings. I thought of them hiding away in the soil all this time. They’ve been there longer than the typical 7-14 days required by most seeds. Something in their little inner clock said this is the time to send up your greenery. That thought delights me, because I think that there is something in there that I don’t quite understand – something built in, that did not require any worry from me, generous and able without my fuss. I will gently remove those little volunteers and give them their own space so that I can relish the wonder of watching them become who they were designed to be. Who are you, little tomato plant? I want to get to know you.”

My Thoughts

Several points struck me in Tammy’s entry. The first was concerning recycling soil. Or getting it “from the chicken’s run.” If you’ve ever kept chickens, you know what you know! LOL! (Lots of fertilizer, aka chicken crap, needed to germinate anything stubborn) The following point was the “appearance of volunteer tomato plants” in a pot of Fig cuttings. Not the usual place you find or plant tomato seeds. Next, they had “been there longer than the typical 7-14 days” normal for tomato seeds to germinate. An amusing thought was that those little seeds had an inner clock telling them, “This is the time.” Tammy’s words were, “did not require any worry from me, generous and able without my fuss.” Tammy transplanted them where the tomato seedlings could “become who they were designed to be.” Tammy’s curious delight to know who this little tomato seedling was made me smile.

My Conclusive Connection

I’m a mother of five adult children, some of whom are prodigals to our faith. ALL these points made me once again realize that God is in control. As parents, we planted many good seeds into their hearts and minds while growing up. Some have come to good fruition, many have not. It is disheartening and difficult not to lose hope. Then, out of the blue, and not normally a thing, a sweet garden gal friend from days long ago asks to share her private journal entry with you. You can see all the stars aligning for a wonderful, heartfelt message. God certainly used this to encourage and remind me not to give up hope. Even all those seeds planted long ago, though it is taking longer than we think is normal, can germinate. The seeds from a forgotten past that once held promise still hold promise in God’s timing.

God has a way of reminding us that those long-forgotten seeds can grow in unexpected places, in unpredictable times, without any worry or fuss on our parts. Our Heavenly Father is the ultimate gardener. God places those tiny, unexpected seedlings in the places that He wants. They can grow and develop into the plants to bear the fruit that they were created for by Him, wherever and whenever. This is a message of hope for all parents of prodigals. We did our best to plant the seeds of truth, faith, love, and hope found in God’s Word. Those seeds may now be considered lost seeds from a long-ago past that has been forgotten. But, don’t be the least bit surprised when they start germinating, long past the due date, without any help or assistance from you, volunteering to become who God designed them to be. Amen~

Photographs are owned by Creative Photographer who took them and cannot be reproduced without written permission. Guest Journal Article is owned by Tammy Landers and cannot be repoduced without written permisssion. All related written content posted to Reconfiguring With Grace blog concerning these photographs are the property of Rhonda Barbour, 2026.