A reflection from Nani Elm

Nani is facilitating Six Summer Saturdays at Sundown, an opportunity for folks to gather in fellowship and deepen their spirituality and connections with God and each other. Read more about it in The Spire, July 2025.

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God never ceases to amaze me. This past Saturday before our session, as I was contemplating all of the “S” words that had inspired me, and which “S” I wanted to present to the group to ponder and share about, I ran through ideas that could lead in several different directions. Second Samuel 22 has always been a scripture that I love and it is filled with words that start with the letter “S”. But then I had the feeling that maybe I should go with the idea of planting SEEDS and build off a little of what we had done the week before.

What exactly does “planting SEEDS” mean and look like in the various areas of our lives? What does planting seeds mean when it comes to our physical health, our mental and emotional health, our spiritual health, our finances, and all areas of our lives? There are literal meanings, figurative meanings, symbolic meanings. I thought this concept would make for great discussions in the group.

The week before we had talked some about Galatians 6:9 (“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.“) and the idea of not giving up and always doing the right thing even when no one else is, including not giving up on your health and wellness and the things we should be doing to make us and keep us healthy in all areas of our lives. I thought, “What seeds are we planting in ourselves, in others, in our lives, in the literal and figurative ground? What are the potential benefits? The preliminary idea that the seeds we plant now will grow and we WILL reap the benefits of those ‘seeds’ if we just keep going.” So I really wanted to expound on the concepts that were presented in week two.

I was looking for songs with the letter “S” and asking God to give me some sort of confirmation about whether or not I was on the right track with what He wanted for me and the group. As I was going through my various playlists of “Jesus music”, my 10-year-old kept asking me to play “Flowers,” by Samantha Ebert. It was a song she stumbled upon relatively recently and had shared with me. I remember liking the song, but as she was begging me to play the song, I kept thinking, I’m trying to hear from God, and I’m struggling to hear His voice as to if I’m on the right track (pun intended). The song title begins with the letter F and I really need to find something with the letter S (other than the first name of the artist). But she was insistent. “Please Mommy, can we just play that song, I really want to hear it.”

I almost started to get annoyed because I really needed some music for the session and to hear God’s voice.  But, I went ahead and pulled up the song and played it, and the lyrics of the song could not have been more perfect for the idea of planting seeds. God used the voice of a little 10-year-old to give me LOUD AND CLEAR validation that YES! I was headed in the right direction. I hope you will read the lyrics to the song below (and even give it a listen) and be as inspired as we are/were.

What seeds are YOU planting? Where are you planting them? Who are you planting them in? What do you hope will grow from those seeds?

Love,

Leinani’s Lifestyle

Flowers by Samantha Ebert

Well, blue skies and hillsides feel so far away
And I wrote in my notebook that I’ve seen better days
Than the ones as of late
I can’t bear the weight

The rain won’t stop pouring out my windowpane
And I haven’t left my bedroom in 76 days
I wish something would change
‘Cause I’m losing faith

So I brought it up in a desperate prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me, “Child, I’m planting seeds
I’m a good God and I have a good plan
So trust that I’m holding a watering can
And someday you’ll see that flowers grow in the valley”

So whatever the reason, I’m barely getting by
I’ll trust it’s a season knowing that you’re by my side
Every step of the way
And I’ll be okay

‘Cause I brought it up in a desperate prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me, “Child, I’m planting seeds
I’m a good God and I have a good plan”
So trust that I’m holding a watering can
And someday you’ll see that flowers grow in the valley

Mm, mm

When I’m on the mountain and looking down below
I’ll see a valley of flowers that needed time to grow
And I’ll thank you for the rain
The hurt and days of pain

And I’ll bring it up in a grateful prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for keeping me there
You know just what I need, and you’ve planted seeds
‘Cause you’re a good God with a real good plan
And you hold my world in a watering can
So I can have peace ’cause flowers grow in the valley