I have a big yard. When we got the house, the grass hadn't been mowed in months - it was 3 feet high in the back yard! What once was a well kept garden of roses and plants, because it was left untended, became the jungle I took possession of.
Honestly, it can be overwhelming.
Of course, due to a period in my life when I overdosed on watching HGTV, I have unrealistically high expectations that my yard should look like a combination between a professional baseball field and Butchart Gardens.
For a year and a half I have wrestled and toiled (I blame Adam's curse a lot!) with the plants of the earth...trying to dominate them.
Unfortunately my yard loves dandelions and crab grass and I keep confusing weeds and pretty flowers - by cutting down the wrong one! Along the way, they know me a Home Depot and Lowe's on a first name basis because I've spent a small fortune in yard supplies at both stores.
When I think about what I want my yard to look like, I can get overwhelmed and depressed. I've got a ways to go yet.
However, the other day I had a couple over for dinner who hadn't seen the house since I moved in. As we toured around the yard, they continually complimented me on how many projects I've completed and how nice the place is looking.
It made me pause and remember just what I've done even since April of this year:
- In addition to general lawn maintenance of fertilizing and reseeding, I got the irrigation system working again.
- I've had the yard dethatched and aerated.
- My lawn still has dandelions and crab grass, but it's never been as green and healthy as it is - the struggle continues!
- I pruned the shrubs and cut down a tree.
- I ringed all the trees (six of them) to help with mowing.
- I rebarked and replanted my front flower beds (with the help of my wonderful parents.)
- I built a brick pad for my BBQ.
- I am in the process of removing mounds of red rock and stepping stones and re-sodding the grass on the side of my house as well as making a nice flower bed. (about 1/2 way done - red rock sucks.)
Wow - that's a lot...because it's not like I have a ton of free time. Sure there is more I want to do, but in wanting to press forward, I can't forget how far I've come.
This all got me thinking about spirituality - how there are times when we realize how much more we need to be doing towards becoming a solid life. While it's true that we can't just be satisfied with a life filled with overgrown grass and dandelions, how often do we miss how far we've come in the journey?
- We beat ourselves up for not reading our Bible every day, when we've read more scripture this year than ever before!
- We know we can't serve a lot, so we don't attempt to serve at all!
- We let the weeds in our life keep us sidelined, instead of asking for help in eradicating them completely.
Most of the time, we can't see it...we can't see how far we've come.
Take time this week to ask someone around you how you are different than you used to be. Yup, I'm certain that you have further to go...we all do. But you should be encouraged by how far you've come.
I find that each time I finish one of my yard projects, it gives me vision and passion for the next one. And I grow in my confidence of my own ability to make change.
When you realize that you are growing in your maturity and understanding of God's Word, it should grow your hunger to learn more! The more you lead and care for others, the more you will be drawn to discipleship and ministering to others. The more weed-free your life becomes, the more you will love pursuing the righteousness of Christ and a life of holiness.
Celebrate how far you've come and keep pressing forward!
BTW, if you are bored and love working in a yard...I can hook you up! :)
Love this. I fall into the hole of seeing progress as its all done too, when you are right that is not the case. In terms of asking people how I am different. oof da. I need to do that, but I am scared the response will be I am not. Thanks for the post, it got me pondering and that's a good thing.
Posted by: Robin Bailey | July 07, 2011 at 04:19 PM