A Husband’s Faithfulness To Water Fake Plants Reminds Us To Be Faithful

Just before Phedre Filton died of Ovarian Cancer four years ago she had one final request of her husband. Don’t forget to water my plants in the bathroom. Nigel Filton was heartbroken, but when he returned home he fulfilled his wife’s request. He faithfully watered the plants. Several times each week he would add a little water, and the plants survived.

Finally the day came for Nigel to move from the home he and his wife had shared in Johannesburg, South Africa for years. His children came to help pack everything up. Needless to say the plants were a great concern, and when they were carefully lifted from the shelf in the bathroom something unexpected was discovered. The plants were fake.

Phedre had pranked her husband one last time during her final days. Nigel says there was water on the floor in the bathroom at times, but he would just wipe it up dismissing it as a minor leak.

As amusing as the story is something else stands out to me other than a wife pranking her husband. Nigel’s diligence. He checked on the plants to make sure they were doing well for four years. His consistency provokes me to think about consistency in other areas. In particular in areas that really matter like the reading of Scripture.

“Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” I Timothy 4:13

Paul wrote those words to Timothy. In the first century a high percentage of the population was illiterate. In addition, no one would have their own copy of the Scriptures. The word of God had to be read publicly, and then meditated on in your own time. Today we don’t need for someone else to read it to us, but it is just as important to read it ourselves. As Paul challenged Timothy, let’s give it our attention.

Nigel may have been pranked, but he was faithful. Let’s be so as well.

Following the Son,

James A Williams