“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do. I’d go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I’d look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I’d just feel a prayer.”
L.M. Montgomery
I knew I had to get myself one.
Faith and My Fiddle-Leaf Fig
I learn so much from nature. How every single thing created is uniquely designed by God. If you know me, you know how true this really is. This past Mother’s Day, I visited my daughter and son-in-law in St. Louis. They were finally settled into their new home. They had been remodeling and I couldn’t wait to see how they had brought this older home to life.
The first thing I noticed was all the houseplants Brooke had brought into her living space. Succulents smiled from shelves, the Pothos and Snake plants rested in corners, but, center stage in her living room was the real star: the Fiddle-Leaf Fig.
The Fiddle-Leaf Fig is the indoor plant of the decade.
https://plantify.co.za
Ikea, Here I Come!
Watching my daughter care for her Fiddle-Leaf Fig made me want one. She told me Ikea typically had them. I didn’t waste any time heading over to our new Ikea store in Norfolk. As I meandered the labyrinth of aisles and departments, I turned a corner and there she was. My very own Fiddle-Leaf Fig.
With great care and the help of a lovely woman, who just happened to be a Master Gardener, I found the perfect plant and off we went.
Fast Forward Two Months
This past week, Brooke came to Virginia for a short visit.
Much to her dismay, she found my Fiddle-Leaf failing.
“I think it is sun-scorched,” she said. “I would move it to another place. I know I told you they don’t like to be moved, but it is obvious that she is getting way too much sun.”
Fiddle-Leaf’s once vibrant green fiddle-shaped leaves were brown around the edges and falling right off the plant. This made me so sad.
“It just needs some TLC,” Brooke said. “Let’s see what we can do.”
The next thirty minutes were all about Fiddle-Leaf. I looked online for some helpful hints and learned quite a bit. They hail from West Africa and are traditionally found in the tropical rainforest. They love to be misted, which encourages humidity. They like water, but no over watering. They need to be wiped down in order to remove surface dust. And, they like light, but indirect light.
“Wow, Brooke,” I said. “This seems like a high-maintenance plant. What have I gotten myself into?”
We had a good laugh.
“Mom,” Brooke said. “I have an idea. Let’s turn your shower on hot and let it sit in the steam for awhile. Give it a taste of the rain forest.”
What happened next stunned us both.
Just ten or fifteen minutes into the hot, steamy shower, Fiddle-Leaf came alive. Her leaves were brighter green, the little buds were unfolding, and seriously, she really looked a whole lot better.
It was really hard to believe.
Sometimes our Faith Needs a Little Extra
The Eternal One will never leave you;
Isaiah 58:11, The Voice
He will lead you in the way that you should go.
When you feel dried up and worthless,
God will nourish you and give you strength.
And you will grow like a garden lovingly tended;
you will be like a spring whose water never runs out.
Sometimes, like my Fiddle-Leaf, we find ourselves being “sun-scorched” or “shriveling” up, due to the excessive cares and “heat” of this world in which we live. Life can get real, real, hard, can’t it?
Each and every minute Brooke and I cared for my beloved plant, I thought about Isaiah 58:11. I often go to this powerful scripture when I feel “dried up and worthless,” which, thankfully, happens less frequently than in the past. I’m far more aware and attuned to how critical self-care is to my overall health and well-being.
Like Fiddle-Leaf, we are uniquely designed by God, and have specific needs.
- Some days we need more or less watering than others. Psalm 1
- When the temperature gets real hot, we might need to move out of the direct light. Psalm 91
- Oftentimes, we need to be “wiped down” in order to remove surface “dust.” Ephesians 5:26
- And, there will be times when we simply need some “spiritual” misting in order to prevent dry and brittle behaviors. Psalm 23:2
Maybe you are feeling a little “dried up” and “worthless,” today.
Know that I am speaking and praying Isaiah 58:11 all over you. Today, may you:
- Know that God will never leave you.
- Understand that God will lead you in the way you should go.
- Believe that God will nourish you and give you strength.
- Trust his wisdom and that He will grow you like a well-tended garden.
- Rest in the fact that God will make sure your spring never, ever runs dry.
