The Saucer

     When I was just a little girl in elementary school, my mother concluded, along with the 3 R’s, the moment was also ripe for me to learn the 3 C’s – kitchen cooking, cleaning and common cures for carelessness!   It was beyond my mother’s mindset to even remotely consider stupidity, not carelessness, caused any of her children’s misfortunes.   Thus, as my plumb, early childhood frame incessantly (and stupidly) stuck my finger into everything cooking in the kitchen, my mother restrained from verbal reprimand and merely snipped a tip from her “kitchen staple” aloe vera plant and handed it to me.   No instructions needed; I was the family expert on aloe vera as a cure for carelessness. 

      No wonder, once grown, my kitchen was never without an aloe vera plant.    In fairness to my own children, I must admit, no one inherited my “tasting finger”.  Our family aloe vera plant was decorative, not a working utensil.    

     A year ago, a new aloe vera plant joined our family kitchen.   Never have I seen one grow so fast.   Seriously, it’s in its fourth pot and has just been relocated from plant stand to plant table.   However, till recently, one baffling mystery had encompassed this ever growing plant.   I absolutely couldn’t get it to stand firm.   Whether I watered or dried out, staked or unstaked, fertilized or withdrew from feeding, potted or repotted, wobbling was its second nature.  

     As is often the case in my dilemmas, one day, in exasperation, I admitted defeat and that heaven only knows the answer.   Heaven did, too!!!   Immediately, and for the first time, my eyes fixed upon the saucer in which the pot was resting.   With lightning speed, I understood the message.  “Got it, God,” became my sigh of understanding.

     My aloe vera plant didn’t need more water, food or soil   It needed deeper, stronger roots.   Everything I was doing came from the top and outside in.   Strong roots are from the bottom and grow inside out.   How worldly of me to pour water on the top and expect roots in depth to take hold and stand strong.   In outward appearance, great growth and beauty were impressive; but roots were shallow and inner strength completely lacking.   An age old adage came to mind.   Shallow roots do not a strong foundation make.

     Automatically, a parallel of aloe vera plant to human lives sprouted.   How many children of planet earth appear to tower above the masses; yet they are not founded and grounded in unwavering roots of strength that do not quiver in the gales of worldly trials and tribulations.   Even more thought provoking is what enables children of God to seek, and grow, roots which withstand the storms of life?  Watering from the saucer holds understanding of the answer.

     If roots are to grow strong, they must stretch deep and find life giving water from the innermost core of their existence.   How is this achieved?   You do not water from the top, but water from the saucer.   Unyielding roots are not vitally inherent if water is poured onto the top.   However, insure the challenge of strong survival that can only be attained by roots stretching deep to be nourished, and the result is strength that does not waiver in earthly squalls.

     Like the aloe vera plant, man’s most solid stature, and strength, comes from reaching deep within our hearts and stretching to the farthest most depth of our souls to find the life giving water of God’s mercy, forgiveness and grace.   Next time the rains of life’s storms threaten to uproot you and you feel trapped in worldly mud, stretch deep inside your heart and soul to where staunch roots of faith, hope and love perpetually reign.  For only in so doing, will you not be toppled by the force of worldly winds.   Rather, you will be upheld by stalwart roots of God planted strength and might.

     Finally, to all who wonder – yes, my aloe vera plant, since watered from the bottom, now flaunts steadfast and firmly grounded standing.   Like it, may all our lives grow deep in saucer strength.