A few years ago, I jumped on a trend. I really, really wanted to be what was termed then, a “plant mom.” I made sure before embarking on this endeavor that I did my due diligence. I researched. I planned. I bought dirt and seeds and containers and covers. I watered. I transferred growing buds into bigger pots. I did daily checks. I even bought weekend waterers for my plant babies when going out of town.
I had some success with a few of my indoor plants; but things like cucumbers and watermelons didn’t fare so well—especially in the brutal Texas summer heat. I tried what I thought was my best to nurture and care for these plants, but it always ended the same way: they would eventually wither and die.
Now, as a mom of the human variety, I can’t imagine trying to grow plants again anytime in the near future. With a husband, a toddler, a baby on the way, and our beloved Betta fish, it’s enough to keep everyone else satisfied and nurtured. To save time and energy, I now opt for fake plants to decorate my home. One less thing to worry about—and it’ll stay looking beautiful forever? Yes, please!
But here’s the thing about fake plants: they’re, well… fake. Dead. Sure, they look beautiful—healthy, vibrant, and perfect. Most of the time, visitors can’t even tell when the foliage is faux. On the surface, they seem to be a living, breathing organism. But one touch or a closer look reveals their true nature. They’re lifeless.
And sometimes, the same can be said for us.
In today’s world, especially with the endless scroll of social media, it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to look like we have it all together. We curate the perfect posts, use the best filters, and present only the highlight reel of our lives. Why? Because deep down, we want to be liked. We want to be admired. We want to feel like we matter.
But here’s the danger: we start believing the lie that we have to be perfect to be valuable. And when our reality doesn’t measure up to someone else’s filtered version, we feel like failures.
If we’re single, the #wifelife posts might make us feel like we’re missing out. If we’re a young mom, we compare our messy homes and toddler tantrums to someone else’s picture-perfect days. If finances are tight, the luxury home tours and beach vacations feel like daggers to the soul. If we’re struggling with body image, the beauty reels only amplify our insecurities.
And all the while, we’re measuring our wilted leaves against someone else’s glossy green ones.
But don’t forget—fake plants have no roots. And dead plants? They still do.
A fake plant can’t grow. It can’t change. It can’t bear fruit or breathe life into its environment. It just sits there, pretending. But a withered plant, no matter how dry or lifeless it seems, still has the potential to be revived. With time, care, and the right conditions, it can live again. It has roots—and roots matter.
Scripture reminds us of this truth:
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
—Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
God isn’t looking for glossy perfection. He’s looking for growth, even if it’s slow. He values the hidden roots—the ones that go deep in trust, faith, and endurance—more than the outward appearance of having it all together.
So if today you feel dry, weary, or worn down, take heart. Real growth doesn’t always look pretty. But it is alive. And where there is life, there is hope.
Let the fake plants sit on the shelf. Be the one who’s rooted—imperfect, perhaps, but real. And in time, you’ll bloom again.
