How, exactly are we to celebrate National Houseplant Appreciation Day? Well, I’ll begin by sharing pics of my houseplants and their stories.
These three beauties are the oldest in my collection. They all came the week we moved into our home, as a housewarming gift from my brother and sister-in-law. They were all together in a lovely little container. They’ve grown a bit since then!
The hanging philodendron and tall palm got moved last year to their current window spots, and have really taken off. Then the palm and peace lily got repotted in the fall, and both have since filled out a great deal!
This peace lily was a thoughtful gift from friends after my husband lost both of his grandparents to Covid last year.
It’s grown a lot in the past five months, especially after getting moved to this south-facing window.
My pothos was a “just because” purchase. I got it just because I wanted it! It was cute and little at one point, but continues to grow down past the key shelf in the kitchen.
I’m sure you know what this is! But this one astounds me.
This is a picture I took TODAY . . . I’ve had this poinsettia on my kitchen table for 5 1/2 WEEKS!!!
Never in my life have I kept one alive this long!
Location, Location, Location
Each of these plants seems to be quite happy in its home spot! Three are in south-facing windows and are happy with getting more sun. The philodendron and pothos are near enough to windows that they get enough light, but they can both handle less light than the others. The poinsettia sits in front of a large, east-facing window that provides maximum indirect sunlight (for some reason I thought they naturally grew in the shade, so I’d never put them in front of windows before. They always withered up and died. Quickly. Now I know!)
Location matters!
Care
Several of these plants have been repotted, and now have room for their roots to spread out. They now have more ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, and proved it with a burst of fresh growth soon after moving into their new digs.
I water all of my plants every Monday. No more, no less. If I watered them more, they would suffer from rotted roots. If I watered them less, they would just hang down and look sad. If I gave them no water and all, they’d wilt and die.
Along with watering once a week, I rotate a few of the plants so that different sides face the light. This helps them fill out more instead of just growing on one side of the pot. The hanging philodendron and pothos don’t get rotated, because I like the look of them just the way they are.
Life Brings Growth
All of my houseplants are growing. That growth is evidence of the life coursing through their roots, stems, and leaves.
In the same way, true followers of Christ are alive, and therefore growing spiritually.
Life
“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment” (John 3:36 NLT).
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
“He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Growth
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV).
“We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better” (Colossians 1:9-10 NLT).
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (Ephesians 3:16-17).
Spiritual Self-Care Inventory Time!
Just as my houseplants need sunlight, water, soil and room to grow, believers need certain things for growth to occur.
- Location matters: are you living in the light of God’s love, or living in the shadows? “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).
- Nutrition matters: Are you taking in the right soul food (the Word of God)? If so, is it outweighing the junk food the world is trying to entice you with? “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).
- Hydration matters: Are you drinking enough water? “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (John 7:37-38)
It’s so very easy to get caught up in the world’s crazy cycles these days, isn’t it? But don’t let it all overwhelm you and pull you away from growing in who you are in Christ.
Take time to pull back, step away, unplug, do whatever you need to do in order to soak up the rays of God’s love and let His Spirit fill your mind and heart with his presence. There you will find life abundant and free!
Extra freebie: never before did I realize how many plants in my house start with the letter “p”.
Lauri Hawley 
Preach Lauri!!! 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏
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