After a couple of weeks, we have begun to see little leaves making their debut....horray!...or is that a weed?!
Several years ago, I worked hard laying landscape fabric in our now garden area. I made European-inspired pebble paths and raised stone planters- for asthetics and practicality, to keep weeds from making our garden their home.
As the kids and I have spent time "weeding" between the planters on the pebble paths and in the raised planters, I have really thought about the "weeds" in our personal lives. I have coached my children through weeding, telling them to get the roots of the weeds or they will just grow back, probably stronger because the roots are bigger.
The "weeds" of our lives, emotionally and mentally (even spritually) can seem harmless when they are freshly rooted and quite small. The weeds of bitterness, jealousy, selfishness and people-pleasing are just a couple weeds I have found in my own life.
Weeding can be put off with an over-crowded life or ineffectively done by temporarily pulling the top , yet the root remains....growing and slowly choking.
Three years ago, I called an organic law-care service and inquired about the bindweed issues I was encountering everywhere in our yard. I would pull the weed, but not the roots-they were too long. The lawn company told me that bindweed was the worst weed (great!) because it has an extensive root system connecting plants underground and can lie dormant for up to 50 years! Treatment has been a several-year process.
As I think about my life, I have looked for any dormant or freshly-sewn weeds . With the Lord's help, I have been rooting out weeds that if matured, will steal and destroy the good, God-ordained things in my life.
Just this year, I have encounted others whom I love dearly in my life, revealed that they had for years dormant-lying weeds and now, they were destroying their lives and marriages. The weeds have taken over and choked future dreams and future generations.
We must all be vigilant in our fight with weeds in our gardens and personal lives. We cannot battle it alone. "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10
I have been on my knees in my garden and with my Lord. I know that I cannot "weed" my own life without the One who created and designed it. I have cried and been humbled as His spirit has shown my own ugly weeds. But, it has also been life-giving freedom to bloom as I was designed to do.
" Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:9
Blessings!
Malinda
