Amos 9:4
Hello Friend,
It is finally springtime and all the earth is getting ready for planting. New birth is happening all around—lawns are greening, trees are sprouting tiny leaves, flowers are blooming once again. Whew, it’s been a long winter. This week, I went to Lowe’s and bought myself some herbs to make a garden. A celebration of spring? Sort of!
You see, I had an epiphany. Recently, a friend betrayed me in a hurtful way. The wound was open and festering. Day after day I focused on my pain—and I was groveling in self-pity and bewilderment; resentment was turning to anger. As I went to bed each night, I focused on the unanswerable question, why? Then I got hit on the head with the Word of God. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:1 “Please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. Now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped” (Message Bible). Then Paul goes on to say, “in hard times, tough times, when we’re beaten up, working hard, when we’re ignored by the world, immersed by tears, open up your lives, live expansively.” Wow! I wasn’t opening up my life; I was closing myself off and living small. And I had a choice to make. I decided I would not squander one more minute of my marvelous life; hence my trip to Lowe’s.
As a reminder of what I was growing in my life, I bought some plants. I knew the constant day to day tending of my herbs would prompt me to ask myself, “What am I planting in my life today. Am I allowing a few weeds to ruin my garden?” I share this life lesson with you because we all allow weeds to ruin our days. What weeds are you nurturing: resentment, guilt, ingratitude, worry? We eat the fruit of what we plant. And negative emotions can actually make us sick. Doctors tell us many of our ailments come from stress. Each day, God gives us the present of a brand new day; 86,400 seconds. I choose today to water my garden with kindness and enthusiasm. I am preparing the soil of my soul for new growth, new opportunities, and new friendships. In my heart, I feel the hope of spring. How is your garden? Is it time for you to take a trip to Lowe’s?
Affirmation: I am tending my garden and enjoying the delicious fruit of my labors.
Thanking God for new growth,
Linda