#Day184: 03 July 2016, Sunday

THE ART OF NURTURING

By: Ps. Eddy Chang

Luke 13:6-9 "...The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down."

In life, when we talk about the "Graphic of Enthusiasm", we always starts with a good excitement or wealthy passion. We enthusiastically listing our new year resolutions and targets. And along the way, the enthusiasm tend to reduce. And we, on regular basis, need to renovate and realigned our priority.

But in reality, our schedule tend to drive our priorities. This is wrong. It should be the other way around. Our priorities shall drive our schedule.

On this holiday week, it is good for us to reflect on our priorities. On whether we have produce fruits, just like a fig tree in this Luke story.

Do our roots healthy? do our soils soft and absord the Words clearly? Or even do we know what are the improvement areas that we need to priorities? Do we know how to nurture ourselves in achieving our priorities?

There are few points that we can learn from Luke's story about the art of nurturing:

• To nurture, we need a community (Loved by God & by the people)
  • Is the community lack of constructive criticism? Full of "Yes" man? Or is the community full of a healthy sounding board, full of positive feedback?
  • Is it "Arena" or "Mask" or "Blind Spot" or "Potential" types of community?
  • There is no perfect community but when God gave us a community that is the community where we will grow.
  • Our Community is Our Network
  • Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people - 1 Samuel 2:26 NLT
  • Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people - Luke 2:52 NLT

• To nurture, we need a special attention and plenty of fertilizer:
  • Not critics or negativity but a special attention with open heart and plenty of love.
  • No human is a perfect individuals, we need a unique special attention for each individuals.

• Finally, to nurture, we need a continuous improvement:
  • In Luke 13:7 - Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
  • This verse reminded us about a continuous improvement. If we are not open to learn, to continuous to learn and uplift ourselves we will be left behind.
  • Be it in professional life, be it in spiritual life.
  • Let us not let the owner of the garden said to us "It's taking up space we can use for something else". Let us not wait until we are cut down, let us continue to nurture ourselves.
  • Let us learn and apply the Art of Nurturing

#fgccmalaysia #uplifting #ArtofNurturing