September 19

I was bummed out when, about four weeks ago, I accidentally gave my big, beautiful volunteer tomato plant too much water and it slowly, slowly turned brown and withered. (I put the hose in the pot with the plant, unaware that it was leaking.)

I did all I could to try to save it; I drained the extra water, gave it fertilizer, pruned off the dead limbs to maximize nutrients to any remaining healthy part of the plant that might've still been in there. But nothing seemed to help. So I stopped watching it and told myself I'd be more careful next time.

And then earlier this week, I noticed something surprising: bright green leaves and little yellow flowers sprouting from the same root system as the original plant. (And right next to it, an itty bitty volunteer that must've sprung up from one of the tomatoes that fell into the dirt last month.) 

The sight surprised me and reminded me of a Biblical truth. God often takes things that we think are dead --relationships, dreams, goals-- and breathes new life into them. And He often acts when we're least expecting His hand to move. So for that great blessing, I am thankful.