PRICKLY POD

Last night I asked my husband to give me what his analogy would be between a seed and a human.  Well, when you ask an agriculture person a question like that the conversation lasts a long time.  Even though long I received a wealth of information.  We discussed how seeds germinate and then we discussed everything from the seed, root, sprout, branch, flower, and fruit where we start all over again with the seed.  He mentioned the sweet gum tree and how no one wants that plant in their yard because of the prickly seedpods.  I on the other hand had a different outlook on these prickly pods that sometimes find your feet.  Just maybe these prickles were for a reason, maybe for protection. 

This may have been the extent of our conversation of the sweet gum, however it didn’t stop there.  When you research the sweet gum tree you find that there is much importance in that prickly pod of seeds.  Inside you will find fertile seeds and infertile seeds.  Guess what the infertile seeds do?  They have a high concentration of the ingredient needed to make Tamiflu.  Back years ago these prickly pods were an herbal treatment used by the Indians for the flu. 

Through pain many people have become prickly and hard.  Every situation that we encounter thickens our skins.  The more we endure the thicker our skin becomes.  Before we know it we are that sweet gum pod, hard on the outside.  Our eyes don’t tear and our skin so tough we feel nothing.  We have protected ourselves with a prickly exterior not wanting to be hurt anymore.  But much like the much-needed ingredient in the sweet gum pod there is an ingredient to remove our shell. 

Jesus gave us all the power to have grace.  Go to God receive Him, surrender to Him and have new life.  We can be set free from the prickly exterior because of Him.  Psalm 118:5 in my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and set me free.  Don’t let distress give you a prickly exterior.  Pray to the Lord.  He always listens and will answer.  It may not be what we think the answer will be, but it is the best answer.  God’s unchanging love gives us security to be soft and have feelings again. 

Much like the important ingredient in the sweet gum plant, there is a softer person within the hard shell waiting to bloom.  The softer side may be hidden but it is there.    Maybe it is you or maybe it is a friend.  Go to the Lord or lead others to Him. We all have seeds of joy and greatness within us.  Go to Him and He will help you find them.