How Not to Grow

Weeds have a habit of choking the life out of our most-loved plants. When the unwanted roots wrap around our "babies", we aren't as conscious of the damage. But when weed vines above ground start wrapping around the plant itself, we must take action and rid them of their attacker.

One of our pepper plants succumbed today, not to a weed vine, but to a "fellow" vegetable cucumber in the next row. We waited too long to rescue it from the choking tendrils, and I fear with the above-normal hot temperatures today it may not survive or will be severely stunted in growth.

As gardeners of our souls, we must be constantly on the lookout for weeds. Those nasty habits and character traits that don't belong in our life. But we also have to be aware of the good and wholesome things that identify us. We can become so absorbed in them that they cause us to be unbalanced and stunted in our spiritual growth too.

As a gardener, we're learning to pull the weeds and to train the vines. Neglect of either can have the same result. Limited growth.

Just a Tree

Thirteen years in this house and I've always wanted to do something with this tree in my front yard. My mom even hinted about it when she was still alive, suggesting that it would be a good place to plant hostas. But it's just been such a low priority with everything else to do around here that nothing ever got done to the tree. The weeds that took root and grew around the tree every year were always an eyesore. I tried planting some wildflowers once, but nothing happened.

Today my nephew and son-in-law, in an attempt to please me, got inspired to do something with my embarrassingly ugly tree. So they cut down the weeds, put some plastic down, then some mulch, and straightened up the border. Simple, inexpensive, and not even very time-consuming. But, oh what a difference it made to my front yard! Why did we wait so long?

Indeed, why do I wait so long to do many things in my life? Sometimes I do pull or cut down some bad habit weeds, but if that's all I do, it won't last. The decision has to be made, efforts have to taken, costs have to be paid, and remedial beautification work has to be done. It isn't always easy, but the result will make all the difference.

I'll undoubtedly be making beautification changes to my character till the day I die. Just as the housing projects will never all get done, there will always be character changes calling for my attention.

I'm keeping my eye on those eaves and gutters for the house before next winter, guys. Thanks for keeping this ol' house serviced for me. I lost my handyman husband, but gained a son-in-law and nephew. You are treasures.

Gardener of the Universe

So, being the gardener in residence, it appears that my duties will be watering detail. It's the least labor-intensive, but at the same time the most time-intensive position on the family gardening team. It will be nice though because I will have a day-to-day eyeball on plant growth that the others won't have. Unfortunately, this will include watching the weeds grow, but that's where the other gardeners will have their input. I hope.

I'm looking forward to seeing our garden grow, when it gets planted that is. And reaping the fresh salad fixings it will provide somewhere down the line. There are many benefits of gardening, including the physical exercise it gives us and the joy of seeing our garden unfold its beauty before us.

This must be how the Lord felt when He was planning the Garden of Eden. There was intense anticipation in watching our earth and its inhabitants blossom before His eyes. Even before the actual "planting" time, I'm sure He was planning and preparing just what was needed to make it all unfold in the best possible way for the entire universe.

It may look like the weeds have taken over on this planet by now, but the Gardener of the Universe has a plan to eradicate those weeds in a manner that will cause them to never come back. We must trust that He knows the best methods and will utilize them in a way that will astound even the angels. We love Him, because He first loved us. Even before we were "planted". And now, it's love that will make us grow in and for Him.