Grace – Tannika Nikeya

Just a quick garden update: I have been researching, and yes, using ChatGpt to aid me in maintaining my garden beds and veggies. This is my first time gardening and I was a bit intimidated by the process.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 1 Corinthians 3: 6-7

I understand that this scripture primarily reminds believers that we are not alone in the work of the Kingdom. Moreover, no one is more superior than the others. Some are called to plant the Word, others to water through discipling, and all of us are called to remain humble because it is God who brings the growth, the success, and the results. Any fruit that comes is by His power alone.

But as I read this scripture, it also helps me to understand that in my gardening venture—and as I plant and water—that it is God that breathes life upon my little garden beds of veggies and herbs.

I’m deeply grateful for the growth that God has brought to my garden beds. I am also grateful for His careful watch over them during this Midwestern cold. Seeing the garlic shoots, thyme, arugula, kale, and more sprout up just before the cold settled in is both satisfying and a relief.

The only thing I wished I would have understood or did better is structuring the space of the seeds because I have to continually thin the veggies as they grow. This ensures they won’t be bunched up and compete for sunlight or space.

And if you are wondering about the cold, I planted veggies and herbs that can endure the winter season with a little extra support such as frost covers when temps drop too low. And the last time I peeked in on them, those little baby sprouts were doing well. Today, while it is a bit warmer than the previous days, I am going to check them again to see how they are holding up. And I am looking forward to when they are much bigger and fully ready to harvest.

Reflection:

How does remembering that God gives the increase change the way you view your efforts—both spiritually and practically?

Welcome, loves, to the P’osies Cafe Series, a new gathering for lovers of language and narrative. Our name, a playful blend of “Poetry” and “Stories,” perfectly captures the essence of what we’re about. In this series, my best friend and fellow writer will join me at our writers’ cafe with our laptops, pens and paper, and a couple of iced mochas or chai lattes. We’ll be sharing our own work—from whispered verse to sprawling tales—and we invite you to listen, reflect, and get lost in the power of storytelling.

Today, we have a fresh new poem being served. Grab your tea or coffee, come on in and enjoy!

Written By Tannika Nikeya

Love how you walk by people,
acknowledging them with a warm smile—like chai tea’s warm embrace,
silently sharing with them God’s amazing grace.

But I notice there is one person
who doesn’t receive as many of those smiles,
treated as though she were a forgotten child.
Can she, too, have that same patience and mercy?

Can you give her that same smile—
not just with your mouth, but with your eyes?

Or will the little girl in her
continue to feel despised,
less than, unseen, unheard,
unworthy of love?

Give her your attention
Receive His grace
His mercy that His unfailing love will trace.

Let her know you see her.
Don’t allow her to shrink or hide.
Stop, embrace her,
and let her smile shine on the inside.

What small act of kindness could you offer today to someone’s unseen heart… and even your own? 💛

Accompanying video: