Absorption

Absorption is critical to growing.

The Midwest has been hot and dry.  Ringing out our sandy soil like a sponge squeezed out and left to dry.  The sponge becomes so dry sitting on the side of the sink that it has to be moistened to make it usable.  Have you ever placed a dry sponge on a spot of water?  It sits like a dry crusty boat on top of the water.  A wet sponge absorbs so much better.

My vertical potatoes ran water through it like a sieve instead of a sponge.  Raised beds and flowers are in stress mode.  Holding on to all that they can.  It is not time to fertilize or kill weeds.  It's time to water.  A great soaking water.  I make the rounds allowing water to soak deep into the soil several times during a watering.  

A bird watching me must shake its head wondering why the chubby girl with the hose keeps walking in circles.  So I water at A until I get to G and then begin at A again to allow the soil to become a great soaked up sponge.  Where spritzes of water just stands on the soil wasting precious resources, a deep soaking helps more water absorb along with oxygen and nutrients.

So true in my own life.  Dried up spiritual being sitting like a piece of jerky within my heart needs time to absorb.  The word, the praise and the time in order to become healthy.  The first reading after a drought runs off and falls away.  My heart needs a good soaking making it able to absorb the nutrients and life and the rain.

Relationships.  Students and children will absorb more after being nurtured.  After they have soaked up the belief, value and the love of this parent and/or teacher in their life will be ready to absorb all that God has for them.

Reading and learning.  I've found that I've had to "prime the pump" when picking up a book after a reading drought.  Maybe I'll have to be more intentional in building a framework before reading so I get what they are saying.

Life and soil.  Need to be prepared and ready to absorb all that God has for them to grow.