VIEWPOINT MAGAZINE Volume 2.3 March 2014 | Page 3

Devotional Sowing A Seed of Love Shared By: Ha Sung Kang “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” - Galatians 6:9-10 B ack at my house in Jakarta, we have a mini rooftop garden. Whenever I go back home during breaks, I see my dad waking up early in the morning to water the plants and check them for any invasive bugs. Once they are fully grown, my mom will pick the fresh vegetables and use them in her cooking. In our household, my dad plants the seeds, my mom gathers the leaves, and I just stand and watch the plants grow. Everytime my dad plants the seeds, I am amazed by how a single seed that is smaller than a grain of rice can grow into multiple leaves that are as big as my palm. Initially, these tiny seeds have no value, but once they are constantly watered and carefully nurtured, they turn into a viable food source for my family. In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, like planting seeds, we reap what we sow. Our actions towards other people plant a seed in their hearts. If we show kindness to others, we plant the seed of kindness in their hearts. Likewise, if we are incessantly complaining about life, then we are sowing the seed of ungratefulness in our heart. Whether we are sowing to satisfy our sinful desires or to please God, we cannot escape the fruits of our planting. So what should we do, knowing that our everyday actions will have an impact in others’ lives? First, we must not get tired of doing good! Just as it takes many months for the seeds to grow their leaves and fruits, we must continually take care of the seeds we planted until they are fully grown. Secondly, whenever there is an opportunity to serve, practice sowing the seed of love. Never underestimate our power to help others. Sometimes, we search only for big and rare opportunities when the small daily acts of love can be just as impactful. Lastly, if we get discouraged along the way by the “fruitlessness” of our labor, remember that God promises us the harvest if we do not give up. "We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee." - Marian Wright Edelman Recently, the United Nations had released a comprehensive guide on the state of North Korea’s crimes against humanity. One of the offenses include the abduction of foreigners. Other offenses include the inhuman torture of prisoners and forced abortion of pregnant women. As anti-government violence continued to mount in Ukraine, many officials of the EU began to worry on the stability of the surrounding region. Ci ٥