I have maple trees in my yard. I love the shape of their leaves, their vibrant fall colors, and their helicopters.

As a little girl at Mineral Springs Elementary, there was a beautiful maple tree in front of the rock building that had been the Ag building when the high school was there. It was tall…old…and it produced helicopters in the spring.

On our way out to recess or heading back to the classroom after recess, we had to pass that tree. In spring, when the leaves were coming out, there would be seed pods that fluttered down to the ground. They resembled helicopter blades going round and round. That’s what my friends and I called them. There would be thousands. After they fell, we would pick up a handful and toss them into the air to watch them fall again. It was glorious.

When we had children and grandchildren, I taught them to “fly the helicopters”. They were as amazed as I was when I was a child. I was hoping to instill awe and wonder in their hearts.

Isn’t our Father so gracious to give us helicopter seeds to enjoy?

Seed sowing is basic to our lives. If no crops are planted, there is no food. Plain and simple. Seeds come in all shapes and sizes with many different means of being dispersed. Some are sticky and attach to our clothes. Cockleburrs bury themselves in animal fur, our socks, or jeans. Catch a ride to a new location.  Dandelion puffs fall apart when the wind blows and fly off to new locations in the yard. Some seeds fall right at the dead plant that bore them and bring new life the next spring. Pine cones fall and release their seeds. New forests spring up.

The point is…different seeds travel different ways…they are like us…different. We are all spreading the same Gospel…but each of us has our own style…our own way that God designed us. He knows each of us responds differently. It will take different ways of “planting the Gospel” for people to hear and respond.

Can’t you see the man playing basketball with teens…developing relationships with them…sharing Christ? Or the woman who needs a friend? She develops a friendship with a church lady and learns Christ loves her? Or the powerful teacher who can open up the Word in such a way people see it clearly for the first time?

All different ways to sow the Gospel seed…but still sowing that precious seed.

I thank our Father that He gives us seed to sow…that He multiplies that seed…then many people hear the Truth…it sets them free…and we see our Father receive glory and 

Thanksgiving.

Watch the “helicopters” this spring… think about sowing Gospel seed.