Working in my garden is a therapeutic reminder that God has given us responsibilities as we care for this earth that He has created. Recent rains had made my garden muddy. So, I really enjoyed this past Saturday when the ground had dried enough for me to step in and get my hands (and feet) dirty!
Abundant rains and warm temperatures had resulted in many weeds growing among the flowers and vegetables. My goal was to go after those weeds, some of which were higher than my plants. The moist soil was soft and offered little resistance as I pulled each weed; stem, leaves, root system, and all.
Had I waited a few more days, the sun would have dried and hardened the soil’s surface. The weeds would have grown taller. Their roots would have strengthened and intertwined with the roots of the flowers and vegetables. At that point, pulling the weeds might have harmed the root systems of the garden plants. Plus, the longer unwanted roots grow, the harder to get all of the root pulled from the ground. And if enough root remains, the weed may grow back tougher than ever.
I have a couple varieties of flowers that reseed themselves freely each year. Saturday, I discovered some beautiful young plants growing underneath the cover of weeds. A few more days of neglect, and those tender plants would have been choked out.
Weeds present such a picture of sin. Sin is dealt with easiest when it is dealt with quickest.
Otherwise, sin puts down roots which grow deeply into the soul; hindering or even preventing the growth that God intends for our lives. By not dealing with many of my own sinful choices quickly, I experienced the growth of habits, attitudes. and addictions. Weeds that were impossible for me to eradicate on my own.
Thankfully, I have made the choice to invite the Master Gardener, God Himself, into the garden of my heart. Exposure to the light of His love, to the watering from His Word, and to the warmth of His people, is softening me. God is pulling weeds and digging up the hidden root systems of sin that have been growing far too long.
As He clears the old, I’m pleasantly surprised at the new growth I’m seeing. There are fresh young shoots of creativity, courage, and desire growing in my heart. I am reminded that God knows what He created my life to produce. And that is the fruit He is cultivating as I yield control to Him.
Want more? Here is some garden-related reading, from the Master Gardener, Himself!
Isaiah 28: 23-29
Ezekiel 36:26
Matthew 13
John 15: 1-17
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