“He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.’” Mark 4:26-27 (NIV)
When Mrs. Warren, my third grade teacher, hovered over me to check my work or answer questions, all was right with the world. My 8-year-old heart basked in her presence. Every lesson Mrs. Warren taught was creative and engaging. I wanted to be just like her.
Mrs. Warren set me on a path that continued for decades. She sowed seeds of love for learning, a passion for teaching, and a dedication to children that grew steadily. My own desire to become a teacher sprouted like a plant.
It started by helping with childcare at church, then student-teaching in college, followed by my classroom years. I’m still teaching today, although it’s shifted out of classrooms into Bible teaching. The tiny seed Mrs. Warren planted in my life grew into a personal guiding purpose.
In Mark 4:26-29, we find a parable about seeds that is only told in Mark’s Gospel:
“[Jesus] also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come’” (NIV).
Earlier in this chapter, Jesus shared another parable of seeds scattered on different soils, and He represented Himself as the Sower. But in Mark 4:26-29, we are the sowers! God invites us to join Him so we’re part of His life-giving process.
What an incredible gift. God gives us the seeds of His Word. He gives us gifts. Then He gives us a commission to be His seed-senders. God has a divine purpose customized for each one of His unique daughters and sons. As our faith becomes fruitful, we also burst forth with new seeds to help others grow.
Thinking back on the seeds planted in my life by dozens of women who impacted me makes me teary-eyed. My mom’s seeds were mothering me and caring for our home even in my earliest memories. Layne, an early mentor, planted seeds of a Jesus-centered life into my teenage heart. Jean, a college leader, planted seeds of deep Bible study as a young woman. Mona, a ministry partner, sowed wise words into my leadership days.
What types of seeds could you send into someone’s life?
Career building.
Adoption.
Leadership.
Mothering.
Bible teaching.
Hospitality.
Encouragement.
The options are endless because our God is infinitely creative. God gives us seeds and simply asks us to send them, blown by the power of the Holy Spirit, into the world.
See your seeds. Send. Repeat.
Lord, You’re the divine Sower, and You’ve also put seeds in my hands for Your glory. Blow them with the power of Your Holy Spirit, and make me a seed-sender for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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1 Corinthians 3:8, “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor” (NIV).
Next week, May 4-8, is Teacher Appreciation Week! Has a teacher planted seeds in your life? Send a thank-you note to that person for the small seeds that have become a big part of your life.
Imagine holding a dandelion, and ask God to show you the seeds He’s put in your hands. Blow!
You can also share your thoughts about sowing seeds in others’ lives in our comments section.
© 2026 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
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