Have you ever experienced planting and hoping to harvest from it? My 5-year old daughter Alexis did and always greeted her Patani seedling with a cup of water either before or after her everyday bath. She never missed a single day in that routine as “Plants need water, plants need air, plants need sunshine and hands to care; just like you, just like me, plants need water in order to grow.” according to the poem her teacher in kinder has taught her. She was so excited to see her plant growing and bearing fruits so she could give some seeds to her friends and classmates. I remember the day I helped her and her Ate Penuel replant their seeds because these were not buried well. I told them, “Yes, you should really plant if you want to harvest and give out to others.”
However, one day on the second week, I heard her pleading “Mama, umay ka man ditoy,” which means “Mama, come over here please,” in an unusually sad voice. Immediately, I ended the phone conversation which I have that moment, I dropped my bath towel and went out to check what’s going on. As I was approaching her, it broke my heart to see her ever cheerful face turned blue. Her Patani seedling was no longer where it was progressively growing. I tried to figure out the whys but there were no traces of whatsoever happened. If the stem were eaten by insects, there could have been remnants, at least I supposed. At the end, I couldn’t help entertaining the thought that one of her playmates might have uprooted it; because I saw her already trice lecturing them about her plant care while watering the seedling. Only her friends know about the seedling other than us. I hope I was wrong and that it wasn’t human interference after all.
I invited her inside, though defiant at first, she came just the same. I consoled her with life realities which I myself was reminded of that moment. And now, I believe it’s not an accident that you are reading this. Whether you are on literal planting, or in a career for living, or in a relationship, these following principles apply:
First, planting is not a guarantee of good harvest. Between planting season and harvest time, our efforts need God’s protection and blessings. Without these, our labours fail in vain.
Second, if you plant, plant as many as you can and as possible. Consider the fact of mortality rate. The more you plant, the bigger is your chance to harvest. If it is on relationship, give more quality (not adding the quantity) on your efforts.
And third is a sad truth. Planting your own seed and harvesting from your own pot is not the only way to be able to share to the world. I witnessed some who planted, but whether their plants bear fruits or not, they harvest over and over abundantly (from the labours of others?… looting from the lands intended for rightful ones?…or playing Robin Hood? .. just like that… whatever and from wherever, they are rewarded 100% or even more than what their actual plants could have yielded and beyond what logic or reason can explain. Whether this is a case of abusing others to the Nth power in the guise of believing in God’s grace; or it is the miracle of TRUE PURE FAITH, this is a reality.
If we want to live and give to others, we can choose among options: (a) living and sharing from our own works as blessed by God, (b) looting from the “gods’ WORKS”, or (c) believing and living by God’s true and pure daily MIRACLES. And still, I know there are options d, e, f, g, and so on, as many as man’s god’s, or God’s wisdom can enumerate. Of course, this third realization, I kept to myself alone. I didn’t expect my Alexis to understand it.
By DODDIE MARIE L. DUCLAN