“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

“WOW!” Was all I could say! Looking out the window, my eyes fell upon the Staghorn Fern that’s been hanging there for years. It hangs there everyday, but I don’t really pay close attention to it. Today it caught my eye and WOW! It’s looking GOOD! Someone gave it to us a long time ago. I’d heard it helps if you put banana peels in them, but thought, “that sounds ridiculous!” Until I did!

Recently I began eating bananas. One day I looked out and saw nothing really worth owning. Then I remembered about adding the peels to the fern. Since I had both time and the banana peels, I slipped several into the plant. Now, NEW growth is happening and it’s looking like it’s supposed to! Then my gaze fell upon the chain holding it up… “THAT may need to be replaced,” I thought.

I did a little looking and found that Stagfern plants aren’t like other plants. They don’t have flowers or seeds, but release microscopic spores into the air (a bit like mushrooms and mosses), which eventually become new plants. They hang in the air and mostly absorb stuff from the humid air. While they can’t tolerate direct sun, indirect sunshine is the only way they grow. Hmmmm!

It’s funny that I hadn’t really cared about that plant until one day, I did! It’s kind of like my relationship with Jesus. I grew up with Him all around me, but hadn’t really cared. Until one day, at 12, He touched me! And then I did! I know from ‘The Revelation’ that I could never stand in his direct presence in my flesh. He’s WAY too bright and pure. But I daily and indirectly get close though His Word.

The spore thing caught my attention too. As a Jesus Guy, I don’t automatically reproduce either. But read and absorb His Word, then send it out into the world around me. There, with the Son, and with the watering of the Holy Spirit, it too can produce another believer in Him. So I guess I have an attraction to the stagfern. You should see it, as it beams with the sun! 

Are YOU growing in Grace?  I pray that the Son shines on YOU today, TOO.