Have you ever planted zinnia seeds?

I have. They grew about 4 inches tall… then died. After that I never cared to re-experience that… um, failure?

Then we got some kids.

Cute ones

They wanted to work inside my garden. That place guarded by a fence and locked gate. Wouldn’t you know it, they wanted to plant zinnias…

I explained how it hadn’t turned out so well last time, let’s do sunflowers instead! Nope. They wanted the pinks, oranges and reds. So we cleared a spot, planted the seeds and waited.

Kids aren’t so good at waiting. Everyday “Liv, they aren’t coming up!”

“That’s because we planted them yesterday!”

I would explain again that it takes time, that sometimes you just have to wait on God. Then I would go out when they weren’t looking and sprinkle some fertilizer on the barren dirt.

Sunny morning. Already hot. Hayden comes in “Liv!!! They are growing!!! I see ‘em!”

I go out to check, it’s weeds. I don’t tell him. He grins like a goof, a happy, slightly delirious goof. He grabs my water bucket and floods the dirt. There is no way those poor seeds are gonna make it.

Weeks pass and we forget.

Then one day out of nowhere there’s not only a plant but a bud! That plant is over two feet tall! Hayden’s  eyes grow big a saucers. We did it. We grew zinnias.

 

We cut a few for the dinner table, surprise Sweet Mama and smile at each other over our success.

God is good. All the time.