God and the Sweet Potato
My sister-in-law introduced me to this video and I decided to try it. This organic sweet potato video shows how an organic sweet potato grows vs. a non organic sweet potato. I love
- growing things
- teaching science
- long-term projects with kids
- sweet potatoes!
So this was the perfect homeschool science project . . . but of course it morphed and took on a life of its own. (as things seem to in my house)
one organic and one not . . . guess?
These sweet potatoes grew and grew with the organic one always bigger, more foliage, and needing WAY more water.
The green was so vibrant! It was a great plant to have in the house through the winter. But, by summer it was a trailing vine. What do I do with it now? One of my smaller scientist suggested that I plant it outside so I did, in a pot, with some other annual herbs.
What I didn’t realize when I planted the vines in dirt that it would continue to grow . . . fruit this time.
my accidental yield from one sweet potato
this yellow planter is where they grew for the summer with basil and dill
I wonder what would have happened if I had a bigger bucket
From the first moment that I watched the sweet potato video and knew that I wanted to try it, I had no idea how life’s everyday can turn into a metaphor for our walk with the Lord.
- I saw something cool and wanted to try it. (people following Jesus)
- one sweet potato grew effortlessly (grace from God)
- one sweet potato grew fruit and the other did not (fruits of the Holy Spirit)
- the other sweet potato never flourished–it grew but did not produce fruit.
- We started out this project with excitement and enthusiasm but ended up planting the potatoes outside in the nearest container . . . not much thought was given to what would happen. Finally, I decided to compost–and found a gift! (our gifts might be hidden under dirt or we may feel like we have been discarded–but God is still working–even in the dirt!)
- We have enough tiny sweet potatoes to make muffins or add to soup. (God will provide what we need.)
I am amazed at how one suggestion from my sister-in-law could have given me so much to be thankful for. How this story was a year in the making . . . now I’m thinking about all of the other things that I may have missed because I didn’t live in the moment and intentionally.
Not gonna let that happen again!
Well, or course I will–but it made quite a dramatic statement. I am grateful. I do give thanks in everything–I am beginning to see how life, grace, sweet potatoes and gratitude are all together. I am trying to stop and see life in this very moment.
Be Blessed.
Linking up with wordless wednesday. whatever works, work in progress, living well wednesday, thought provoking thursdays, Wisdom Wednesdays
I love how the sweet potato grew into a metaphor to Jesus. Wonderful. I will watch the video and do the experiment as well with my kids at my school at home. :)
I also found organic potatoes in the pantry–after a few months–I obviously sat them down to do something else–but they were beautiful. Stay tuned for my celery project and ginger . . . all things that have sort of just come to be . . .
Be Blessed.
Wow, so cool. The potato and the comparison. “Our gifts may be hidden under dirt or we may feel like we have been discarded-but God is still working -even in dirt”-love that!!
The metaphor to Jesus sort of happened as I was writing this post . . . that is why there is no scripture attached to my thoughts–that would have taken more research–I memorize the verses but not where they are . . .
Be Blessed.
Oh, my…your sweet potato grew a lot of fruit in life, and in your writing and observations for this post..so wonderful :)
note to self, don’t start growing sweet potatoes unless I REALLY want sweet potatoes! Clever metaphor, too – thanks!
Love the analogy. Hope you have some butter and cinnamon to eat on those bad boys!
yes, I do–a meal for one!
or maybe muffins.
be blessed.
okay, i am intrigued about the sweet potato project. I also love the lessons that you pull from it. i love doing that, too.
I have a few more “accidental” learning projects in the works–because that is real life–
I’ll be posting them as well.
Be Blessed.