The Parable of the Sower
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: 'A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.'
Reference: Matthew 13:1-23
The Gardener’s Seeds
A gardener decided to plant seeds in various places around a park. Some landed on the sidewalk and were quickly eaten by birds. Others fell in rocky soil where they sprouted but soon withered in the sun. A few seeds grew among thorny bushes and were overwhelmed by the weeds. But the seeds that were carefully planted in a well-prepared garden bed thrived, producing an abundant harvest. The gardener reflected that just like plants, people need the right environment and care to grow strong in faith.