Parable Upon Parable

     We had a very interesting discussion about parables in Sunday School today that I would just like to share with you!

     As we talked about the parable of the Ten Virgins we discussed the fact that the five wise virgins could not share their oil because if they did they would run out and be left out of the marriage feast as well. (By small and simple things we can slowly go downhill or keep moving forward!) We discussed the fact that for us the oil in those lamps is our own personal testimonies that we cannot give to anyone else. Each person has to gain a personal testimony for themselves. But it was also mentioned how badly we sometimes WANT to share that oil with others, especially family members and friends who have drifted from the church or have never had the gospel in their lives. Then we discussed the parable of the talents and how we need to strengthen, build and add more talents to our lives. Another way to look at it is that in order for us to strengthen our testimonies we need to share with others and help them.

     As we discussed how we cannot really take something from within ourselves and hand it to someone else assuring their testimonies, we CAN share our thougths, feelings, experiences and testimonies with others, BUT (and this is where another parable came into my mind as we discussed this) it is up to that person who we are talking to, as to whether they take it within themselves and use it. That other parable that came to my mind? The sowing of the seeds; seeds that fall upon hard ground, by the wayside or are choked with weeds OR those who actually fall upon good soil. And why did that come to me?  Because each person's heart and mind is some kind of soil. You may be sharing your very heartfelt core of truth with someone who's heart is rock hard (like the soil on hard ground) or seems interested but allows other cares of this world to eat them up or choke them off, but maybe, just maybe someone has good soil and accepts your seed planting and it grows into a plant that gives its own fruit of a testimony.

     Again, with the different soils. We technically are not responsible for the soil of another's heart and mind, BUT just like the parable of the talents, we can still share with others for by each caring act of service and love, we may be chipping away at that rock hard soil, removing a few weeds, scaring off a few birds and helping prepare the soil for a time when it is totally ready to allow the seeds to grow! After all, it is garden planting time, and how many of you just go throw the seeds wherever and hope they grow? Doesn't growing a true and healthy garden require that you prepare the soil each year the best you can? Sometimes you have to throw rocks out, you pull weeds, you till, you add fertilizer to the soil and then finally are ready to plant the seed. Is sharing the turths of the gospel any different? Every time you serve another, help another, share with another through word and deed in righteousness you may be tossing a rock out of his garden, adding fertilizer, pulling up a few weeds, digging and softening the soil even more until a seed may finally be planted and we may have the joy of seeing it grow and spread to others as well.

     So may we live up to all that the parables are trying to get through to us and plant in our own soil so that our testimonies will grow and flourish and become a strong fruitful tree that may bless others by our fruits. After all, "By their fruits ye shall know them", but that's a parable for a different time!!!