‘Bearing fruit’ is seen as a very positive image while ‘going to seed’ often indicates that someone is past their best and perhaps even somewhat decrepit. Yet the farmer and the gardener often strive for plants to go to seed so that the species continues and will fruit another year.
In our Christian lives we are urged to bear fruit and also sow seeds for our own and future generations.
God’s Spirit has given us life and can make our lives fruitful: with love, joy and peace; patience, kindness and goodness; faithfulness, humility and self-control. (Based on Galatians 5.23-25).
The work of Growing Old Grace-fully hopes to encourage older people to celebrate what has been, rejoice in what is and trust in God for what will be shown to us and through us, in the times to come.
Bearing fruit, going to seed… can we still be excited by new opportunities around us, and the chance to offer ourselves in different ways in Christ’s service? Can we be surprised and rejoice that sometimes our seeds produce an unexpected plant?
This reflection is from resources developed by MHA www.mha.org.uk