Monday, August 06, 2007

Weeds - Part III

I’ve talked about my rock garden before. Whenever life gets too busy, the weeds get out of control. If you haven’t read Part I and II, you can by clicking HERE and HERE.

Usually when I weed my entire body hurts for a couple of days. This time I thought I would be smart and not bend over as much and sit while I weed. Imagine how tricky that would be in a rock garden. I took a cardboard box and flatten it. I used it to sit on. From a distance the weeds looked massive. (Pictured above is the actual weed from my garden.) As I grabbed a handful to pull I noticed it had one central root and the weed came up. I guess it wasn’t going to be as bad it first appeared.

After I pulled the main weed out and was about to spray, I noticed there were tiny little weeds between the rocks ready to spring up. I couldn’t believe how much there were. I had to bend closely to see them and remove rocks to get to others. The thing that kills me was that we had put down protective tarp that was suppose to keep weeds from growing but instead these babies come up right through the black tarp. They were mutant weeds out of a bad B-movie.

It was very frustrating because after the major removal there was so much to spray. My hand became tired and I had to switch back and forth as not to damage my hands. It really didn’t matter because all I could get done was the front yard. After about two hours and a very large black garbage bag, I was done. My back and arms were hurting. The sun was starting to beat on me and I felt exhausted. I was so mad at myself. I had many more projects to do in the house and I was determined not to overdue it in the garden.

I got cleaned up and got ready to go to the store. I was about to go food shopping when Tom looked at me and told me I had to take a nap for at least an hour. He let me sleep for two. I was under orders to just do the food shopping and the rest of the projects would have to wait. Doctor Tom ordered rest and I decided it was wise counsel.

While I was working on the weeds God started to speak to me. Weeds are like the sin in life. Some are obvious and they grow to the point of overtaking us. It’s at this point I could have used some help pulling the weeds. It wouldn’t have taken so long and I wouldn’t have felt so beat up afterwards. It's the same with sin, sometimes we need the help of someone we trust to help us overcome.

Some weeds are small and hide inside behind the rocks. They aren’t visible until something larger is removed. They are much easier to get rid of at this stage, but what if I’m not looking. Then I can’t see what’s wrong. It’s good to sometimes take a look at yourself (not in a way that puts condemnation upon you) but conviction prompted by the Holy Spirit. When sin doesn’t take root and overgrow we are more apt to have a better garden that is healthy and strong. So Lord help me to see better the weeds hiding in my life. Let nothing hinder my relationship with You.

© Nadine Z. 2007

Check out my husband’s blog post called, “What We Look Like Through Their Eyes.” The magazine, The Stranger, sent out 31 writers to different religious services all on the same day. It’s long but worth the read.

23 comments:

Susan said...

Every time I am weeding I, too, see it as a living example of sin and how, if left to itself, it starts to croud out the flowers or good stuff in our lives.
Susan

Shionge said...

Thank you Nadine....I do at times reflect upon myself and to count my blessings and not let 'sins' overpowering me.

YOur post has always sent me a positive message and I'm glad to be here :D

palmtreefanatic said...

this is so true Nadine!
your posts are always inspiring to me!

Art said...

"Lord help me to see better the weeds hiding in my life..."

Amen. We all have those 'weeds', don't we?

The analogy of weeds and sin is so powerful, Nadine. I think you should write a book!

Deb said...

OH how true is that! Sometimes when we deal with the big weed we forget to remove the little weeds surrounding it and the same type of weed pops up again, sometimes bigger sometimes smaller. I think sometimes after removing a big weed we are too tired to remove the little ones but we have to press through whether it hurts or not, then allow the healing to begin.
Great post Nadine. Thanks

Amydeanne said...

reminds me of a veggie tales movie.. the rumor weed.. a very true post! I know I sure need to work on this and everytime I think I've pulled out allll the weeds another seems to pop up!

Dedee said...

One of the reasons I planted a garden this year was to remind myself of the many aspect of faith and as I've weeded, I've realized how much this post is true. Weeds are like sin.

Thanks for the reminder to keep looking!

Sandy said...

Great post, Nadine.
I've often had similar thoughts when weeding. I try to think of the spiritual application.
BTW, I've been pulling weeds in our yard just like your picture!
Sandy

Knit-Wit said...

I've given up pulling weeds in my little garden. I really don't care to compete with the smoke outside right now.

to answer your question on my blog - I have a license for both deer and elk. I'm sure it will end up being more of a donation to the game, fish, and parks dept, though.

Anonymous said...

hi, my first time here. i saw you over on deDee's blog post about corn and i was so touched by your comment to her about the loss. just beautiful what you said. thanks for making me go awwhh :) kathleen

EM said...

Nadine I completely agree about the sin that seems at times to overtake and then... more weeds. So the battle continues so we can get on the offense and see when the weeds are approaching and get rid of them early.

Gwen said...

Great gardening. Weeding is the part I let my husband do. He says it relaxes him. I just pull weeds out randomly. Your comments about the little ones that creep in unaware was a good reminder to check my personal weeds. Thanks.

marykathryn said...

2 hours of weed pulling is enough to exhaust anyone! However, what you said about sin and how some are oblivious and some are not is so true. Most sins start out small, then before you know it you don't have any room for beauty and life because that nasty ol'weed has over choked it all out.

Shawna said...

You are so right, Nadine, about the weeds and roots. Things can get so out of control so fast.

Thanks for your kind words on my site.

Don't you just love having a husband to take care of you? I do.

Keshi said...

**Weeds are like the sin in life. Some are obvious and they grow to the point of overtaking us

thats so well-said!

Keshi.

Anonymous said...

Your weed series always hits me so hard. We had moved to California a new country, no friends no family. Three months later I lost our baby. For a month I weeded our small backyard ... my toddler played, I weeded and weeded ... I pulled at the pain, the grief ... Many conversations with God while weeding.

yours truly B said...

well put I am working on me and I think it is good. I am pulling weeds but some are tough. I try to ask God every morning to make me a better mommy today than yesterday, to make me a better wife today than yesterday and to make me a better person today than yesterday and I can see it working although some times I find it hard but a little extra weed killer and it will be okay

yours truly B said...

P.S. I am back sort of
Billie

Celestine said...

you sound like a v religious person... which christian denomination do you belong to?

Anonymous said...

THank you for this post Nadine... this is so absolutely true. I just love how your posts make me look at life and truly look at the blessings.
Thank you!
- Audrey
Pinks & Blues Girls

Lynda Meyers said...

I wish it was easier to get the weeds out! If only there was some other way...

Maybe the sore muscles we sometimes suffer are designed as a reminder - so that we pull them out earlier next time!!

Emancipation of the Freed said...

I'm always impressed with your gift for making the simple profound! I love you.

Tom

Knit-Wit said...

Hey Nadine,

When life slows down a bit and you are rested from pulling weeds, you can go over to my site to collect another award to add to your list of well deserved blogging awards. :)