Read Matthew 19:13-15.

Our home is a bright patch of green in our community. As trivial as it may seem, when we moved overseas, we wanted our new home to warmly welcome the neighbors God wanted us to love. And laboring to plant and maintain healthy, green grass seemed like a way to do just that.

God’s Purpose

From our efforts, we’ve seen God draw many—especially children—to our yard. I didn’t realize the spiritual impact that something as mundane as grass would have on our ministry until a friend from the States visited and shared these kind words:

It became clear that the land and the green grass they worked so hard to prepare had great meaning and impact for the glory of the Lord, representing Him in such a small yet profound way. This is Eden in the middle of a poor place. The green was so vibrant and the Lord’s presence dwelt over this place, drawing in the hungry, the thirsty, the child who would simply come. This house, this land, this family was “set apart” for the Glory of the Lord to be revealed.

Living Out the Oasis Like Eden Vision

No small act is insignificant to God’s Kingdom. This repeatedly reminds our family of who God wants us to be in our village. He’s specifically placed us here to draw children into His Kingdom, and we want His love to shine out in everything we do. We want our home and yard to be an oasis of God’s love, a place where others can come and know Him.

Father, help us to be faithful to our life’s calling and to never grow weary in sharing Your love with those around us in seemingly ordinary ways. Amen.

-written by an East-West missionary to Central Asia