Sow the Seeds

I truly believe God desires each of us to positively influence the lives of others, and to be a blessing along the way. Our words, our actions, and even the smallest acts of kindness can leave lasting marks on someone’s life. In the process, I believe that when you reach the end of your days, you will have made a difference in the lives of others.

One of the way the Bible describes this process is “planting seeds” or “sowing seeds.” We should all be looking for ways to sow seeds in people’s lives. The Apostle Paul tells us in life that some people will sow sparingly and unfortunately will reap sparingly, where others will sow bountifully and will reap bountifully (11 Corinthians 9:6).

I have also come to realize we may not always know the full extent of our influence. As the teacher and author Ken Boa has observed:

“You actually won’t see all your influence in this life. Your life has a hidden impact. You won’t know. Ever so often when you are down and need encouragement, God may grace you with a little feedback when you need it. Someone may say, ‘When you did this, it had a powerful impact on my life.’ God may do that to let us know that we are having an impact on someone.”

For this reason, we need to continue to plant seeds, remembering you may not see all of your impact, so much is hidden from us. However you will find out one day.

William Barclay shares a true story from author H.L. Gee.

“In the church where Gee worshipped, there was a lonely old man, Old Thomas. He had outlived all his friends, and hardly anyone knew him. When Thomas died, Gee had the feeling that there would be no one to go to the funeral, so he decided to go, so that there might be someone to follow the old man to his last resting place.

There was no one else, and it was a wild, wet day. The funeral reached the cemetery; and at the gate there was a soldier waiting. He was an officer, but on his raincoat there were no rank badges. The soldier came to the graveside for the ceremony; when it was over, he stepped forward and before the open grave swept his hand upwards in the manner of a royal salute. H.L. Gee walked away with this soldier and as they walked, the wind blew the soldier’s raincoat open to reveal the shoulder badges of a brigadier.

The brigadier said to Gee: ‘You will perhaps be wondering what I am doing here. Years ago, Thomas was my Sunday School teacher; I was a wild lad and a sore trial to him. He never knew what he did for me, but I owe everything I am or will be to Old Thomas, and today I had come to salute him at the end.’”

Thomas did not realize his influence. No one ever knows in this life the impact they have had on others. It is our task to sow the seeds and then leave the rest to God.

Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership and a best-selling author.