Did you ever stop to think about how long it takes for an oak tree to grow from an acorn? Here are some statistics:
- 30 to 90 days to stratify your seeds (this means exposing the seeds to cold and damp so that they germinate)
- A few weeks to a few months for seeds to sprout
- 6 months to a year from collecting acorns to planting young saplings outside
- 20 years for the tree to begin bearing acorns
- 30 to 35 years for the tree to become fully mature
- Up to 50 years before the tree bears consistently high yields of acorns
Earlier this year I served on a Via de Cristo weekend where I gave a talk about piety (True Piety), the process of maturing as a Christian. Just like the oak tree, this process takes time -- in fact, it takes a lifetime! Often, we become impatient with ourselves because we don't see the progress we would like in our spiritual lives. We don't pray as often or as fervently as we should; we struggle with the same sins day after day; that ministry we started isn't bearing fruit. We wonder what the problem is. Guess what? The problem is our unrealistic expectations.
The Bible tells us that God is patient with us:
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." Psalm 103:8
We must be patient with ourselves and with others. We are both saint and sinner. Our story isn't over yet.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
For more about patience see these posts:
Perseverance = Patience
Wisdom and Patience
Waiting Requires Patience
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