Planting Seeds That Last Forever

Galatians 6:9

St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
May 10, 2026
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes

In the remote Arctic of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, high above sea level and deep inside a mountain, lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault — a secure backup facility for the world’s crop diversity. Opened on 26 February 2008, it was built into solid rock more than 100 meters underground, beneath layers of rock up to 60 meters thick, to protect seeds from disasters, climate change, and human error.

The vault was conceived as a “doomsday” backup for seeds stored in national and international gene banks. Its purpose is to safeguard the genetic resources of food crops in case of mismanagement, accidents, funding cuts, war, disease, or natural disasters. It holds duplicates of seeds from around the world, acting like a safety deposit box for humanity’s food supply.

Likewise, the seeds that we plant have great potential for today and eternity. As sowers of seeds, today we honor mothers for their great labor in our world.

Hear God’s word: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Introduction

We recognize mothers—not just for what they do, but for what they plant. Motherhood, whether biological or spiritual, is a calling of sowing seeds—often unseen, often unrecognized, but deeply eternal

A mother’s work is rarely finished in a day. It is slow, patient, repetitive. It can feel like planting seeds in hard soil and waiting far too long for anything to grow. That’s why Paul’s words in Galatians matter: “Do not grow weary in doing good.”

1. The Reality of Planting Seeds

Planting is an act of faith.

No farmer plants and expects instant fruit. In the same way, mothers plant:

Seeds of kindness when children are difficult

Seeds of discipline when it’s uncomfortable

Seeds of truth when it’s not immediately accepted

Many of those seeds seem invisible. A prayer whispered at night. A lesson repeated for the hundredth time. A sacrifice no one notices.

But planting always precedes harvest.

2. The Temptation to Grow Weary

Paul wouldn’t say “don’t grow weary” if weariness weren’t real.

Mothers get tired:

Tired of giving without immediate return

Tired of wondering if it’s making a difference

Tired of carrying emotional, physical, and spiritual burdens

Weariness whispers: “This isn’t working.”

Faith responds: “God is still growing something.”

The truth is, some of the most important seeds grow underground for a long time before anything appears above the surface.

3. The Promise of a Harvest

Galatians 6:9 gives a powerful promise:

“At the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Notice two things:

There is a harvest — your labor is not wasted

There is a timing — not always your timing

Some seeds bloom quickly. Others take years. Some may not fully bloom until long after a mother’s work is done—but God keeps the record of every seed planted.

A mother may never see the full harvest of: 1. A prayer that protects a child; 2. A value that shapes a future family, 3) A truth that anchors someone decades later, and 4) But heaven sees it all.

4. Seeds That Last Forever

What kind of seeds last forever?

Faith – teaching children to trust God

Love – showing grace even when it’s undeserved

Truth – grounding lives in what is right

Character – modeling integrity in daily life

These are not seasonal seeds. They are eternal.

A mother’s influence doesn’t stop when a child grows up—it multiplies through generations.

5. Encouragement for Today

To every mother, grandmother, mentor, or spiritual mother:

If you feel unseen, God sees you

If you feel tired, God strengthens you

If you feel unsure, God is working beneath the surface

You are not just raising children—you are shaping souls.

You are not just managing days—you are planting eternity.

Conclusion

Galatians 6:9 is both a command and a promise:

Don’t give up. Your harvest is coming

So keep planting: Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s slow. Even when you don’t see results. Because the seeds you plant in love, faith, and obedience to God…will last forever.

Sri Mata shares a perspective on mothers that is worth considering:

“Wherever you see you happy, peaceful individuals; where ever you see children endowed with noble qualities and good disposition; wherever you see men who have immense strength when faced with failure and adverse situation; wherever you see people who possess a great measure of understanding, sympathy, love, and compassion toward the suffering, and who give of themselves to others you will usually find a great mother who has inspired them to become what they are.

“Mothers are the ones who are most able to sow the seeds of love, universal kinship, and patience in the minds of human beings.

“There is a special bond between a mother and a child. The mother’s inner qualities are transmitted to the child even through her breast milk.

“The mother understands the heart of the child; she pours her love into the child, teaches him or her the positive lessons of life, and corrects the child’s mistakes.

“If you walk through a field of soft, green grass a few times, you will easily make a path. The good thoughts and positive values we cultivate in our children will stay with them forever…

“…A woman who has awakened her innate motherhood brings heaven to earth wherever she is. Only women can create a peaceful, happy world. And so it is that the one who rocks the cradle of the babe is the one who holds up the lamp, shedding light on the world….”

Closing Prayer

Lord, strengthen every mother and every person who sows into others. When they grow weary, remind them of Your promise. Let their seeds take root and bring a harvest beyond what they can imagine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.