**written by Pam Benedict

An unplanned science experiment is unfolding in our vegetable garden this year. In the spring when we had a few early days of warmth, Steve and I started to plant. Usually, he’s in charge of the vegetables and I choose the flowers. While we were at Lowes, a bright seed packet of giant sunflowers caught my eye and there in the store I imagined all the cheerful blooms I could arrange in vases and all the seeds we could scatter for the birds or roast to eat for ourselves.

Later that week I pushed the seeds into the moist soil along the whole length of the garden. Within a few days I was pleased to see that the little seeds had split open, pushed up through the dirt and sprouted tiny shoots.

By May, I observed an odd phenomenon occurring. On the left side of the garden the sunflower shoots had grown a few inches tall, but on the right side of the garden the shoots had doubled in height. Now, in late June, the plants on the left are about 1 foot tall and the plants on the right are over 4 feet tall. I planted the seeds on the same day, from the same seed packet, the same depth into the ground and gave them the same amount of water.

What caused such an exponential difference in growth? The amount of time in the sun.

In the spring, the trees were just beginning to get leaves, the entire garden got full sun. But now the summer is here and the branches are in full foliage. In the morning, the whole garden has sun, but as the afternoon progresses, a tree shadows the left side of the garden in shade while the right side stays in full sun. Less time in the sun equals less growth. More time in the sun equals exponential growth.

As I sat on the back deck and pondered the difference in the size of the sunflowers, the Lord reminded me of John 15. Jesus encouraged his disciples,

“Abide in me and my word in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without me, you can do nothing.”

Jesus wanted his friends to know, that the more they remained in him, continued with him, and spent time with him, the more they would grow. He didn’t tell them to serve more, give more, or do more. He told them to abide more.

I remember the old kid’s Sunday school song about God making us fishers of men. The 2nd verse said “Read your Bible, pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”

We aren’t reading His Word to check off a “to do “list, but to spend time with our Savior, to hear His words of encouragement, correction and instruction. He reminds us who we are, what He has done for us, and how He wants us to reflect His light to everyone around us.

Want to grow as a Christian? Spend time each day with the Son! Abide with Him and soak in His love.