Here we are at the end of July and our gardens are coming into their own, especially if we’ve nursed them along with some supplemental irrigation. One treat that many have been enjoying for a month or more is watermelons! These are perfect summertime refreshers that provide a snack and a drink all at the same time.
My grandfather, Beecher Bowers, was known for having the best watermelons in the valley at his B & B Market in Maurertown in the late 1950’s and early ‘60s. Although my family celebrated every summer holiday with one of these oval spheres, I never developed a fondness for them regardless of my efforts to do so. I’m much happier with a bowl of homemade chocolate or grape nut ice cream, thank you very much.
In spite of my personal tastes, however, watermelons are as much an American favorite as apple pie or hotdogs and they are another remarkable creation of God. Growing from a tiny seed, their vines sprawl out, bloom, and then begin to accumulate nutrients and moisture in what will become our picnic delight.
Former US Congressman, lawyer, presidential candidate, and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan once wrote, “I have observed the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight, and when you can tell me how it takes this material and colors an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of that a white rind and within again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight—when you can explain to me the mystery of the watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God.”
Truly the watermelon’s ability to do what it does in just a few short weeks is an incredible and miraculous fete. The final fruit looks nothing like the original seed though it houses within it the potential for hundreds more just like it. Unless of course, you’ve opted for a recent hybrid seedless variety.
Watermelons are just one of many large fruits, nuts, and vegetables that grow from tiny seeds. Sadly, we have grown so accustomed to these plants doing what God designed them to do that we fail to marvel at these everyday miracles and take them for granted. Imagine if we were to grow 200,000 times our own weight in 2 months!
This incredible reality of nature, however, instructs us of God’s ability to take the seed of His Holy Word, implant it in the human heart, and make it grow to produce an abundant harvest. The Word may be instilled through a devotional, a radio or television clip, a sermon, or even a social media post.
Regardless of the source, however, when we allow Scripture to get into the soil of our heart, it can germinate and begin to grow into something miraculous, beautiful, and even delicious. Although the original seed may appear small and non-descript, as with the watermelon, God’s Word grows to produce abundant color, sustenance, and delight in a person’s life and can do so in short order if properly nurtured.
God’s Word can produce repentance for sin which in turn leads us to Jesus who implants salvation and regeneration. These sprouts can then begin to yield a bountiful harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. These “melons” not only please our heavenly Gardener, but also those around us as well. Of course, the more seeds we plant, the more good melons will be produced.
The next time you chomp into a slice of summertime’s favorite snack, remember the miracle that God performed to make it for you and thank Him for it. Then plant some of His good seeds into your own heart and watch them grow!
Summer blessings, George