When I first started adding plants my living room window sill, I thought I was just filling my home with pretty leaves, but over time, I’ve realized that tending to them has been teaching me something much bigger. As my small window sill of a few succulents grew into quite a collection now needing plant stands, grow lights, pots and lots and lots of potting soil, I learned many lessons about patience, perseverance, and even about people.
Plants are such quiet teachers. They don’t rush. They don’t demand. They simply are. Each one, growing at their own pace, teaching me to slow down and notice the small changes. The new leaf that slowly unfurls. The tiny root that appears after weeks of waiting. The flower that opens overnight as if it had been planning a surprise.
I’ve also noticed how plants, much like people, all have their own personalities.
Some are colorful and full of life.
Some are “spikey” and need a little extra care before you can get close.
Some are wild, stretching out in every direction, unstoppable, and free.
Some are a little “thick skinned” and resilient, but some are “thin skinned,” a little dramatic, and need a little more attention.
Some look a little frazzled, dropping leaves on hard days, but they keep going.
Some simply need support. A stake to lean on, a trellis to climb, a helping hand to grow tall.
Sometimes, when under stress, the leaves will change colors. Yellow leaves are normally a sign of stress, but there are plants that have yellow spots as part of their coloring.
Some, when putting out new growth, have a lighter color leaf. Some of those new leaves are all curled up and tightly wound. Some, the new growth fights through the soil and pops up tiny sprouts, reaching for the light.
Just like people, plants have different needs. In plant care, some need a lot of light. Some can sit in a sunny window and soak up all the sunlight, but others, if given more light, would get burned and fade. They need protection from outside pressure or harsh conditions.
For those of us who need “more light” that could mean more time around others, encouragement, and conversation to thrive. For those who need more shade, it’s not because they are weak, but because more would be harmful or damaging to them. These are the ones that need rest, quiet time, boundaries, and space away from chaos to stay healthy.
Neither one is wrong. It’s just how we were made.
If the plants that need bright light were brought into the darkness, their colors would fade, and they would grow weak. God does that with us too. God brings us into “the light” to give us more clarity, see the truth, and stretch us. Many times that stretching can feel uncomfortable, but His light reveals what needs pruned from our lives, strengthening our faith and helps us grow in ways we could not in the shadows. When he places us in these bright windows it may be because we need to be seen so we can be an encouragement to others.
Sometimes, God allows us to go into “shady seasons”. Times of rest, not to punish us, but to protect us and let us heal so we don’t get scorched. These times of shade are not God ignoring us, it’s His protection, slowing our pace so we have the time to regain strength. He may be pruning us gently, nurturing our tender hearts. In the shade, roots grow deeper even if the leaves seem to remain still.
Just like plants have different light requirements, some plants need more water than others. People need deep connection, prayer, or quiet time to refill.
My plants would wither without their light and water. We can’t thrive without what sustains us most… the love of Christ. He is our Living Water, the One who refreshes and renews our hearts, and His Word is the light that helps us grow in the right direction.
Caring for my plants reminds me that perseverance pays off. The plant that looked hopeless can bounce back with the right care. The one that seemed stuck can suddenly put out new growth when conditions are right. It’s the same with us. We all have seasons of thriving and seasons of struggle, but with patience, support, and God’s steady love, we can grow stronger than we ever thought we could.
My plant collection isn’t just décor or a fun hobby anymore. It’s a quiet reminder to give myself (and others) grace, to keep showing up, and to trust that growth is happening, even when I can’t see it yet.
Cowles Farm 