Sunday, April 29, 2007

Weeds

The front of my house has a rock garden. Tom and I decided that grass was an unnecessary evil that needed too much maintenance. So we put a tarp type material on the ground and covered it with rocks. We’ve added some plants and flowers to make everything look pretty. This seemed like a good idea because it would be easy to take care of. Being a girl from Brooklyn, I’m not much of a gardener. I don’t know the names of plants or trees, I just appreciate their beauty.

In years past I’ve had a black thumb. Every house plant I tried to grow would die a horrible death. It was sad. Someone would give me a beautiful plant and I would apologize for its short life span. I’ve gotten plants guaranteed to live through dire circumstances, only to be murdered by my hands. Then one day eight years ago, it happened. Someone gave me a plant (I have no idea what type it was) but it lived. It broke the spell of the black thumb. Now I can’t kill a house plant if I tried.

Let’s go back to my outside garden. It looks really nice except for one thing – weeds. In years past if I started to kill the weeds when I first seen them, it wasn’t so bad. Taking care of them one at a time was easy. This year has been so busy and I’ve been sick that the weed population has gotten out of control. The one morning I had time to work in the garden, it rained and I couldn’t do anything about spraying.

God has been speaking to me about weeds lately. What are the things that pop up and try to choke the beauty around me? What are the things that start off small and look harmless, but if left unattended get out of control? Isn’t it better to spray it, pull it out and get rid of it, when there is only one weed to deal with? The weeds in my life are the things that will stop me from reaching my destiny in Him. It’s the things that will slow me down on the road God is taking me. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. I need to not let the weeds fester in my garden so that it doesn’t get out of hand.

Lord, make me a good gardener of the soil that is my life. Help me to take care of the weeds before they get out of control. Keep me on the road You have for me. Let my life be good soil that You can plant Your garden in.

© Nadine Z. 2007

25 comments:

Shionge said...

It is interesting to read your thoughts about weeds and yes..get rid of little 'pest' that is a hindrance to our journey to success.

I wish you well Nadine :D

palmtreefanatic said...

AMEN! You are absolutely right! nice post, thank you Nadine!
OH and thanks for the compliment:)

Kim said...

Beautiful post, Nadine. I hope you are feeling a bit better. I am so sorry that you had a bad experience with your tests the other day. Have a better week this week!

Unknown said...

Just stumbled on your blogs and I loved this post.

Glad to know there are other Deker fans out there.. Loved the color series and Three..Im looking forward to seeing how the movie is

a woman who is said...

Call me when you want to plant a rose. I am a great enabler in the gardening department. Did I mention I love to weed?

Louise said...

AMEN!
Great post!
I'll be thinking about that one today and looking through 'my garden' for weeds!
Have a great day!!!

Erin said...

Nadine, that is a great thought. I was thinking along those lines the other day when I was out walking. I felt prompted to think about and weed out some things in my life, and my first instinct was to just leave it for another time and go on my happy way. But there is no time better than the present to weed out the bad stuff. Before it gets too big! Great post!!!!

Jill said...

I can really realte to this in two ways: we don't have much grass in our front yard either, but it's not because we don't want it. The previous owner covered most everything with pinestraw. We hope to remedy it after The Porch Project is complete. #2.... I have a black thumb as well. And I've never managed to keep any living plant alive. In fact, I even hesitate to buy poinsettias during the holidays for fear I'll kill them before Christmas.

Glad you're feeling a bit better and your tests are over.

~Crystal~ said...

Amen...Great post.

Art said...

Amen, as well. Very nice post Nadine!

Elle*Bee said...

beautifully said!

yours truly B said...

I think you put it better than I ever would have.I have some big weeds but I hope that I am strong enough to listen to God and yank them out with no harm done to the rest of my garden. AHHHHHHH roses I have 20 and I have to leave them all behind but, I get new ones to nuture and grow and watch bloom and inhale their fragrance and drink in their beauty.
Billie

Amydeanne said...

ahhh I know this one! one is easy to pull, but many take a lot of work! (of course if you've got little munchkins they rip them off and sing songs while doing it lol)

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better these days!
Praying for you!

D said...

I'm sorry I didn't get by here sooner. I would've commented on your last post. I was sorry to hear what a difficult time you had with the testing. There have been a few times in my life when doctors or nurses were unkind. I understand. How awesome that you chose to forgive right away! And isn't it great to have a husband there to bring some comfort?

This post is a good reminder to me. I need to pull a few weeds in my life. Thanks for sharing!

all over the map said...

It is all about cultivating the soil of our heart. That's what Our Lord desires, our heart.
I think it's a good point to be aware of the small things, that seem harmless, but as you said can get out of control.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, I cracked up when you said you have a "black thumb!" That's so ME!!

My husband is actually the one with a green thumb... in our old apt in NYC he had tons of beautiful plants that he kept alive with very little help from the sun!

Beautiful post, as usual!

- Audrey, Pinks & Blues Girls

Deb said...

So true.....
Your posts are so inspiring.
Hope your garden is ravishing with all the beauty God has in mind and may you always be able to detect the weeds before they ever choke out any of your beautiful flowers or it's fruit ;O)

Sandy said...

I love what you shared. I was sitting in the sun yesterday, looking around our yard. So many weeds. I was asking God to show me the spiritual side to the weeds in my life.
Thank you! And Happy May Day!
Sandy

Damselfly said...

Nice parallel!

I have a rock garden on the side of my house -- and it too needs to be weeded and well, maybe redone!

Trina said...

I have often thought about the weeds that are in my life, and how we can't be too busy or even lazy about pulling them from our lives. Beautiful analogy!

Dedee said...

I love this, as usual. You hit things right on the mark. I also love rock gardens. I'm trying to make my side spot a rock garden, but it's not working very well. Any suggestions?

Brin said...

Hi Nadine,

I've spent the last several moments reading down through your blog... about your former black thumb... your rude doctor... your stomach troubles... your book!... and man, I'm impressed! You have such a unique and interesting blog. It truly stands out. I've enjoyed it very much!

Hi! I wanted to stop in and say thanks for the sweet comment you left on my blog earlier this week. I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you'll consider coming back whenever you feel better!

Get well soon. You're in my prayers.

Brin
www.messythrillinglife.blogspot.com

marykathryn said...

What a true thought!! Weeding out the negative in our life can be a full time job if we procrastinate and don't get to the task as soon as it arrives..What a great comparaison!!
BTW.. I too have a black thumb, but I think my spell it starting to snap..I hope!! lol

Emancipation of the Freed said...

Hi Babe:

I just wanted to let you know that I love you and I miss you, weeds and all... :)

Tom

eph2810 said...

I have to take care of some my spiritual weeds as well this up-coming week. I need to put my focus back on Him...Thank you for sharing...

Blessings to you and yours.