Power of the Tongue

“I am head and not tail,” I announced to the plant which sat in a prominent place on my desk since I received it.  It had not budded in anyway. 

Around August last year, someone beautified our ladies room at work with small plants on the long marble counter at the sink. It created a lovely ambience. One morning I was admiring them when a colleague walked in. 

“These are really beautiful! Aren’t they?” I declared. 

“Yes, they are,” she responded, “Do you want one for your desk?” (What coincidence to be speaking to the owner of the plants). I paused, thinking, my husband takes care of plants not me. 

“Yes, thank you,” I heard my response.

She took me to her desk and was offering me two of the plants, but I accepted only one. 

Around December, another coworker came to the office, saw my plant, commented on how beautiful it was and mentioned the ones in the ladies' room. 

“When it springs can you give me a piece?” She asked.

“Oh, I can do better than that. I know who brought the plants in. She was giving me two so I will see if she still has the other one," I responded. 

Sure to my word, I got the plant and had the coworker collect it. (That was in December).

Yesterday morning, she came to my desk and eagerly shared how her plant is growing nicely and spreading and she has to take it home and re-pot it. I was happy for her, but after she left I looked at my plant. It looked the same. A little taller, but otherwise it was the same. No new shoot. There was never a new shoot. Nothing.

I went to the washroom to get some water for my plant. At the same time I checked on the other plants. They were bigger and had new shoots too! Back at my desk, I watered my plant, and used my letter opener to turn the soil.

As I did so, I spoke to the plant: “Look, I am head and not tail. All the plants around here are growing and budding; what’s happening with you?” Then I spoke to the Lord. 

“Father, I declare I’m head and not tail, so I am looking forward to this plant representing me well.”

Guess what? When I got to work this morning, one day later, the plant for the first time has new shoots! Indeed, there is power in the tongue. Just as Job 22:28 declares “Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established.”

• Submitted by FH