Nurture Each Other
Ephesians 5: 6 - 20 When we hear the word nurture, I wonder what comes to mind first. Maybe children. Maybe houseplants. Maybe pets. Maybe sourdough starters, if you went through that particular pandemic phase. Maybe relationships. To nurture is to care for something or someone in a way that helps them grow, develop, and thrive. And most of us know that nurture is not a once-and-done act. You cannot water a plant once, declare it nurtured, and then ignore it for the next six months. You cannot feed a child one good meal, pat yourself on the back, and assume the work is done. You cannot tell a friendship, a marriage, a congregation, or a community, “I cared about you back in 2018,” and expect that to carry everything forward forever. Nurture is not a moment. Nurture is a pattern, a rhythm, a discipline. It is attention over time. It is care that repeats. It is support that adapts as growth happens. It is teaching and feedi...