Repotting Time

This pathetic thing is a Christmas cactus that my father-in-law’s cousin, Lynette gave to me one year. Lynette grew it from a cutting of her Christmas cactus, which in turn had come from a cutting off the family heirloom Christmas cactus. I have kept it in its original pot for many years, but this past Christmas another family member posted a picture of their Christmas cactus, also from the same heirloom plant and I thought, “Wow! They grow that big and bloom that much?” I saw my plant with new eyes and I vowed to repot it in the springtime.


Margo repotted it for me in late March. In just three short months it took off and nearly tripled in size. One morning as I was praying and reading in my quiet-time place I really looked at it and marveled at how repotting the plant had energized it and renewed its growth and beauty. I prayed, “Lord, what in my life right now could use a repotting time?”

Margo and Madeline came to mind at once. Puzzled, I sat quietly for a long time looking upon my plant and pondering God’s message that transplanting our daughters would help them to grow strong roots, deep roots, roots that will support them in the next season of their journey to adulthood. I went to Nick and I shared my experience and I asked him, “Do you see what this might mean? What are the larger pot and the new soil?”

With no hesitation, he answered, “We could put them in the middle school.” Not liking this answer, I smiled and put my hand on his arm before turning and filling my coffee cup.

I did not willingly or quickly accept God’s plan. Instead, I explored every combination of “soil” and “pot size” for educating our daughters, except public school. I often cried out to the Lord during these weeks; “Won’t this be hard on me? Can’t we leave things the same?” Memories flooded my mind as I looked back over our six years homeschooling. These were good years! How could the Lord tell me now that they had been too long in the same pot?

Looking back, I see that the Lord was transplanting me, but I clung to the past and feared the future rather than trusting the Lord’s new plan for educating our daughters.

Each morning in my quiet place I observed the renewed health and beauty of my Christmas cactus, and gradually I came to desire this same beauty and new growth for my girls. The Lord changed my heart as I meditated on His Word and watched my plant continue to grow and change as the weeks passed. I want my girls to thrive not whither from being too long in the same pot.

I still have days of despair and worry for myself, but when this happens I turn my eyes back the Lord and I trust the Supreme Gardener. I remember that He has not abandoned me, and I am always in His right hand. The Master Gardener will bring forth His fruit in His time and in His manner. These verses have sustained me as I wait patiently to see how the Lord will work in my life, and in the lives of my girls during this next year and beyond.

John 15:1-2 "I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Psalm 63:7-8 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.